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Ashton Chronicles #1
The Strings That Hold Us Together
Truth or Dare?
Truth.
Katherine “Kit” Passin is used to being alone, and she's good at it. Or at least, she thought she was, until she arrives in Ashton as her aunt’s latest lingerie protege. Soon, Katherine falls deeper into the city's glamorous underbelly. Drawn to a crowd that forces her to come out of her shell, corsets aren’t the only things Katherine risks becoming tangled in.
Dare.
Jack Carver ran away from home eight years ago. Kicked out of school, in a string of unconventional jobs, and living in his best friend’s guest room after professing his unrequited love, Jack is further from his goal of becoming a professional photographer than he ever was. He happily masks his disappointment behind a cunning smile and knowing where all the best parties are. That is, until Kit is invited along on a night to remember, and he realizes the timid seamstress new to the city isn’t all he expected.
And everyone has truths they don’t want to share.
The Strings That Hold Us Together is a contemporary, found-family, slow-burn romance. Perfect for those in search of a steamy slow-burn with an emotional Happily Ever After, and plenty more stories to tell in Ashton.
Truth.
Katherine “Kit” Passin is used to being alone, and she's good at it. Or at least, she thought she was, until she arrives in Ashton as her aunt’s latest lingerie protege. Soon, Katherine falls deeper into the city's glamorous underbelly. Drawn to a crowd that forces her to come out of her shell, corsets aren’t the only things Katherine risks becoming tangled in.
Dare.
Jack Carver ran away from home eight years ago. Kicked out of school, in a string of unconventional jobs, and living in his best friend’s guest room after professing his unrequited love, Jack is further from his goal of becoming a professional photographer than he ever was. He happily masks his disappointment behind a cunning smile and knowing where all the best parties are. That is, until Kit is invited along on a night to remember, and he realizes the timid seamstress new to the city isn’t all he expected.
And everyone has truths they don’t want to share.
The Strings That Hold Us Together is a contemporary, found-family, slow-burn romance. Perfect for those in search of a steamy slow-burn with an emotional Happily Ever After, and plenty more stories to tell in Ashton.
- GenresRomance
ebook
Published September 21, 2021
22 people are currently reading
341 people want to read
About the author
Kendra Mase
10 books214 followersKendra Mase is the author of emotional, romantic, sometimes magical love stories including Call You Mine and Bewitched by You.
For upcoming book announcements and news, you can follow her on social media at kendramase or on her website www.kendramase.com
For upcoming book announcements and news, you can follow her on social media at kendramase or on her website www.kendramase.com
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
October 25, 2021
I honestly didn't expect a debut novel to captivate and entertain me so much. The writing is so well done, you quickly get lost in the characters and story. I thought at times I could predict where the story was going, but I was wrong. The book had good twists and surprises. I really liked the ending. I look forward to more books by this Kendra Mase.
August 21, 2021
Ahh!!! Was I so excited to get an arc of Kendra’s debut?! Absolutely!
Wow, where to even start. I finished it last night and wanted to sit with it before I wrote a review. this book sucked me in and pulled at all my heartstrings.
I loved the characters so much. Watching Kit find herself throughout the novel made my heart ache at times and then rejoice at others! I loved Jack and his journey throughout the book. And the romance 😍😍 swoon worthy!
This book is all about finding yourself, finding family, and even love. I had such a great time reading it. I loved the depth of the story that we get. It’s so much more than a man and a woman finding each other and falling in love. It felt real and I was super invested in all the characters.
This one is steamy 🔥🔥🔥 and there is one main open door scene. Along with innuendo and well, what Avril and Jack do for their jobs makes this book more mature. But it’s all written so well! I haven’t read a book like this before, and I really enjoyed it.
A super strong debut from Kendra. I cannot wait to read more of her stories! 4.5 stars because it took me a little bit of time to get into the story. But I loved it so much! Definitely recommend and will definitely read again!
Wow, where to even start. I finished it last night and wanted to sit with it before I wrote a review. this book sucked me in and pulled at all my heartstrings.
I loved the characters so much. Watching Kit find herself throughout the novel made my heart ache at times and then rejoice at others! I loved Jack and his journey throughout the book. And the romance 😍😍 swoon worthy!
This book is all about finding yourself, finding family, and even love. I had such a great time reading it. I loved the depth of the story that we get. It’s so much more than a man and a woman finding each other and falling in love. It felt real and I was super invested in all the characters.
This one is steamy 🔥🔥🔥 and there is one main open door scene. Along with innuendo and well, what Avril and Jack do for their jobs makes this book more mature. But it’s all written so well! I haven’t read a book like this before, and I really enjoyed it.
A super strong debut from Kendra. I cannot wait to read more of her stories! 4.5 stars because it took me a little bit of time to get into the story. But I loved it so much! Definitely recommend and will definitely read again!
September 25, 2021
Just the right mix of fantasy and real life to make for a great read
The Strings That Hold Us Together has everything you need for a fun, romantic read.
-Beautifully flawed characters that you can’t help but care about.
-A relationship slowly blooming from friendship into passion in a believable way that doesn’t make you want to roll your eyes with unrealistic drama.
-But there’s also enough teasing fantasy and just the right dash of sexual tension to pull you into the world this author has created for you.
September 2, 2021
A beautifully written debut for Kendra Mase!!
I cannot recommend this book and new series enough!!Strings is one of the most lovely, enjoyable, and unique romance novels I’ve read in years. I’m so glad I was able to read an Arc of this book.
Kit and Jack’s love story starts as a friendship between the new to the city Kit, completely smitten with the quintessential bad boy Jack of DuCain, a local S&M club. Our love interest is initially obsessed with his dazzling coworker/ star Avril “The Queen”, but Kit and Jack develop their relationship throughout the book Kit comes into her own identity and we learn Jack is so much more than his devil may care attitude. Their relationship brings so much personal growth, emotional high stakes and of course steam!! I couldn’t put it down.
Set in the darkly riveting city of Ashton and so beautifully written you can’t help but be sucked into this story. I cannot wait for book 2!!!! Fingers crossed it stars our favorite hot mess Avril.
I cannot recommend this book and new series enough!!Strings is one of the most lovely, enjoyable, and unique romance novels I’ve read in years. I’m so glad I was able to read an Arc of this book.
Kit and Jack’s love story starts as a friendship between the new to the city Kit, completely smitten with the quintessential bad boy Jack of DuCain, a local S&M club. Our love interest is initially obsessed with his dazzling coworker/ star Avril “The Queen”, but Kit and Jack develop their relationship throughout the book Kit comes into her own identity and we learn Jack is so much more than his devil may care attitude. Their relationship brings so much personal growth, emotional high stakes and of course steam!! I couldn’t put it down.
Set in the darkly riveting city of Ashton and so beautifully written you can’t help but be sucked into this story. I cannot wait for book 2!!!! Fingers crossed it stars our favorite hot mess Avril.
January 11, 2022
The most gorgeous romance novel I’ve ever read—brilliant and loud characters, heartbreak and hilarity. This work makes me see colors I’ve never imagined before.
The Strings That Hold Us Together, with its louder-than-life characters and settings, is a romance novel filled to the brim with love, glitter, and emotion—happiness, sadness, and utter terror, rejection, and abandonment. After her father leaves with no warning, Kit moves to the city of Ashton to find who she is and how she fits into the world around her. Kit takes a job with her aunt, Emilie, creating, selling, and delivering lingerie to burlesque dancers and S&M clubs. That’s how she meets Avril, a confident, ambitious, and beautiful dancer, and Jack. Jack, a photographer who dares Kit to come out of her shell and grow into herself. And convince her that this new life, the life Kit never knew she wanted, is the one thing that will not slip away.
Kit loves with her whole heart, and that love seeps into everything she does. The way in which she takes in the world around her, particularly the slow and detailed opening scene in which she watches Jack interact with another performer, sets the tone for the whole novel. Kit’s love makes for a beautiful world, one that I long to be a part of. Because Kit loves so much, she also fears abandonment, as she’s been abandoned so many times before. The Strings That Hold Us Together has high emotional stakes. There’re love and lies, sex and dancing, terror and rescue. Kit is very anxious and very emotional. Her love, beauty, anxiety, and ambition are all clear on the page. I lived her life with her while I read, opened my heart with her, and held my breath for her as she faced rejection.
Kit’s love is also what gives the novel so much color. She sees Ashton as if the city itself is also a character. There’s the lingerie shop; the clubs Rosin and DuCain, Keys; the coffee shop frequented by art students; and even the charm of Jack’s farm. The characters that inhabit Strings are even more loud and more colorful than their settings. Avril’s blunt, sexual confidence and her generosity. The way Jack masks insecurity with a sexy smirk. These loud personalities and interactions develop plotlines happening behind the scenes of Kit and Jack’s romance. While these characters are introduced quickly, their powerful personalities develop the chaos of a bustling city, a dark but glittering club. Whenever I put the book down, I’d wonder how they were getting on with their days, and who would make up with whom.
The Strings That Hold Us Together is a gorgeous romance, but it’s not only romantic love that holds makes this novel gorgeous. It’s platonic love. It’s love for craft and career. It’s the fear of love slipping through one’s fingers. The characters in this novel feel real—when you finish reading, you may close the book, but you will come away feeling as if you’ve formed everlasting friendships with Jack, Avril, and Kit.
The Strings That Hold Us Together, with its louder-than-life characters and settings, is a romance novel filled to the brim with love, glitter, and emotion—happiness, sadness, and utter terror, rejection, and abandonment. After her father leaves with no warning, Kit moves to the city of Ashton to find who she is and how she fits into the world around her. Kit takes a job with her aunt, Emilie, creating, selling, and delivering lingerie to burlesque dancers and S&M clubs. That’s how she meets Avril, a confident, ambitious, and beautiful dancer, and Jack. Jack, a photographer who dares Kit to come out of her shell and grow into herself. And convince her that this new life, the life Kit never knew she wanted, is the one thing that will not slip away.
Kit loves with her whole heart, and that love seeps into everything she does. The way in which she takes in the world around her, particularly the slow and detailed opening scene in which she watches Jack interact with another performer, sets the tone for the whole novel. Kit’s love makes for a beautiful world, one that I long to be a part of. Because Kit loves so much, she also fears abandonment, as she’s been abandoned so many times before. The Strings That Hold Us Together has high emotional stakes. There’re love and lies, sex and dancing, terror and rescue. Kit is very anxious and very emotional. Her love, beauty, anxiety, and ambition are all clear on the page. I lived her life with her while I read, opened my heart with her, and held my breath for her as she faced rejection.
Kit’s love is also what gives the novel so much color. She sees Ashton as if the city itself is also a character. There’s the lingerie shop; the clubs Rosin and DuCain, Keys; the coffee shop frequented by art students; and even the charm of Jack’s farm. The characters that inhabit Strings are even more loud and more colorful than their settings. Avril’s blunt, sexual confidence and her generosity. The way Jack masks insecurity with a sexy smirk. These loud personalities and interactions develop plotlines happening behind the scenes of Kit and Jack’s romance. While these characters are introduced quickly, their powerful personalities develop the chaos of a bustling city, a dark but glittering club. Whenever I put the book down, I’d wonder how they were getting on with their days, and who would make up with whom.
The Strings That Hold Us Together is a gorgeous romance, but it’s not only romantic love that holds makes this novel gorgeous. It’s platonic love. It’s love for craft and career. It’s the fear of love slipping through one’s fingers. The characters in this novel feel real—when you finish reading, you may close the book, but you will come away feeling as if you’ve formed everlasting friendships with Jack, Avril, and Kit.
September 7, 2021
I absolutely loved this story line and now I'm wanting to live in a small town or at least plan a vacation there. I wish I had connected a little more with the characters, but was honestly surprised by a twist at the end. This is a good romance story. You should give it a try.
January 14, 2022
*Copy of book was provided in exchange for an honest review*
4/5 ⭐️
2.75/5🌶
Tropes:
- slow burn
- friends to lovers
- burlesque & kink clubs
- seamstress x bad boy
- virgin heroine
- slight OW drama
POV: third person
Type: interconnected stand-alone (book one)
After her father leaves with no warning, Katharine (Kit) moves to the city of Ashton and takes a job with her aunt, creating, selling, and delivering lingerie to dancers and S&M clubs. She meets Jack who proposes a game of truth or dare, which spirals into a world of chaos.
Let me just say, every time Jack called Kit “kitten”, I just about melted. This man is so unnecessarily fine. It was effortless I swear. Mans was also kinky! 👀
The characters made this book such an adventure. It was definitely different and such a wild ride. Absolutely loved the ending!
The writing was a bit hard to figure out at times especially with dialogue. It wasn’t always clear who was saying what.
4/5 ⭐️
2.75/5🌶
Tropes:
- slow burn
- friends to lovers
- burlesque & kink clubs
- seamstress x bad boy
- virgin heroine
- slight OW drama
POV: third person
Type: interconnected stand-alone (book one)
After her father leaves with no warning, Katharine (Kit) moves to the city of Ashton and takes a job with her aunt, creating, selling, and delivering lingerie to dancers and S&M clubs. She meets Jack who proposes a game of truth or dare, which spirals into a world of chaos.
Let me just say, every time Jack called Kit “kitten”, I just about melted. This man is so unnecessarily fine. It was effortless I swear. Mans was also kinky! 👀
The characters made this book such an adventure. It was definitely different and such a wild ride. Absolutely loved the ending!
The writing was a bit hard to figure out at times especially with dialogue. It wasn’t always clear who was saying what.
September 14, 2021
I came at a crossroads at the 25% mark and decided to continue, but I ultimately DNF’d at 40%. I could not connect on any level with this book unfortunately. I felt like there were way too many moving parts and characters to keep up with, and it was incredibly confusing at the beginning, and therefore did not grip my interest enough to encourage me to carry on. I really wish I felt differently about this one, because it was one I was excited for, and really hoped to enjoy. Honestly as far as rating, I am stuck between 2.5 and 3 stars.
A special thank you to Kendra Mase for this eARC.
A special thank you to Kendra Mase for this eARC.
September 27, 2021
Debut....
If anyone reading this novel get past 20% of this ,it is amazing....it goes all the way confusing in the start but it ends well....
Very good for a debut
If anyone reading this novel get past 20% of this ,it is amazing....it goes all the way confusing in the start but it ends well....
Very good for a debut
January 4, 2022
This slow burn romance was so well crafted from the characters to the story. The author, Kendra, knows how to paint a story and keep a reader right on the edge of their seat. I never wanted to put this book down, and even after finishing it I still crave more of these characters and this world. This story about finding one self, finding family, and finding love was so incredibly captivating and I couldn't get enough of it.
This story follows Katherine “Kit” Passin who has arrived in Ashton as her aunt's lastest lingerie seamstress protege. For a long time she was content with being alone and thought she was good at just being by herself. But as she falls into the cities glamorous underbelly she is drawn to a crowd that has her shedding her shell and blossoming where and when she least expected.
Life didn't deal Jack Carver an easy hand, and he feels the furthest he ever has from his dream to become a professional photographer. He took off from home eight years ago, kicked out of school, in a string of unconventional jobs, and is living in his best friend’s guest room.
When Kit is invited along on a night to remember, Jack realizes the timid seamstress new to the city isn’t all he expected, and something special may just be lurking within reach. Everyone has truths they keep to themselves, but that doesn't mean that they won't eventually unfurl.
I truly loved the relationships (both romantic and friendly) that form within this story. I'm a sucker for the found family trope, and this story delivers it wonderfully. Every one of the characters within the found family group now hold a special place in my heart. Thank you Kendra for a copy of this novel.
This story follows Katherine “Kit” Passin who has arrived in Ashton as her aunt's lastest lingerie seamstress protege. For a long time she was content with being alone and thought she was good at just being by herself. But as she falls into the cities glamorous underbelly she is drawn to a crowd that has her shedding her shell and blossoming where and when she least expected.
Life didn't deal Jack Carver an easy hand, and he feels the furthest he ever has from his dream to become a professional photographer. He took off from home eight years ago, kicked out of school, in a string of unconventional jobs, and is living in his best friend’s guest room.
When Kit is invited along on a night to remember, Jack realizes the timid seamstress new to the city isn’t all he expected, and something special may just be lurking within reach. Everyone has truths they keep to themselves, but that doesn't mean that they won't eventually unfurl.
I truly loved the relationships (both romantic and friendly) that form within this story. I'm a sucker for the found family trope, and this story delivers it wonderfully. Every one of the characters within the found family group now hold a special place in my heart. Thank you Kendra for a copy of this novel.
November 6, 2021
Being completely honest, the beginning was tough for me to focus through. It was a bit chaotic and hard to figure out some of the dialogues at times. The characters were a little tough to connect with as well. HOWEVER!! Once I got about 30ish% through, it started turning around for me. I really enjoyed Kit’s growth throughout the story and loved watching Jack rediscover the passion that brought him to Ashton in the first place. When I started enjoying the book, it was so hard for me to put down and I found myself reading it at any moment I could find time to. And the ending. Oh my word the ending. I loved it. Overall, a really good debut for this author! Truly a solid 4 stars! So glad she posted this on one of the FB Book Groups for me to discover it. Look forward to future works from her.
January 1, 2024
I have LOVE LOVE LOVED every book by Kendra Mase, I mean she is truly my favorite author and so amazing at writing books, I legit can’t put them down once I start. Every story wraps together so nicely and I love for how she has the different characters point of views for each chapter. I love hearing from both sides it’s like you’re reading two books at once. But the story between Kit and Jack had me on my Toes! I went through all the emotions and had no idea where the book was going to end but it was so much better then I expected. She truly transports you into the book and makes you forget all about real life while reading. The perfect book to read and start off the new year! Can’t wait to read Ashton book 2!
September 30, 2021
Really loved this book more than I thought I was going to. I finished it in one sitting! It took me a little to get into it since it felt like a whole new world in the first chapter or two, but ended up really falling in love with the characters, and felt understood by Kit who got wrapped up in the craziness of the city and people, oddly enough for the better. Her character I feel like took on such an evolution I appreciated. The romance was definitely slow burn with hints of the heat I expected the whole way through. Loved the journey we took to get to the end...and it was an emotional ride. And did I mention THE COVER? So gorgeous.
December 25, 2021
I actually considered DNF this book initially—the beginning was such a mess I couldn’t tell what the story was or anything about the characters, but I continued. As the Kit and Jack storyline continued I found myself getting highly invested in the growing relationship between them. Starting as friends and growing into a relationship. I was hoping for my spice and this one fell a little flat for me.
Ultimately the core plot line was kept me interested and the book leaves you set up perfectly for a sequel.
Ultimately the core plot line was kept me interested and the book leaves you set up perfectly for a sequel.
November 8, 2021
I was very confused the first 10ish chapters. I was frustrated the rest of the book. I was too invested to DNF it and I’m glad I stuck through. It wasn’t the ending I wanted but it was the ending I got.
December 31, 2021
The beginning was a little hard for me to get into but the book did pick my interest later on. I'm glad I decided to finish it , I loved it , I loved kit and jack ❤
July 1, 2024
I expected more spice from characters who work in burlesque and BDSM clubs
September 20, 2022
This was one of the quickest reads I sunk into. Right along side with the Colleen Hoover style of writing, this author pulled me right into the story that flowed so well that I just couldn’t put it down. Lots of late night reading with this one and diving right into the second book. And the love scenes… fantastic!
August 29, 2023
Very excited to read Kendra’s debut novel! This book keep pulling me in for more. Storyline was complex and compelling. Very well written. Can’t wait for more from Kendra Mase!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews