Blog Tour ~ Toxic (Treacherous Chemistry #2) by Avylinn Winter
Buy Links: Pride | Amazon US | Amazon UK
Publisher: Pride Publishing
Length: 79,690 words
Treacherous Chemistry Series
Volatile (Book #1) Amazon US | Amazon UK
Blurb
When true love is a lie and pleasure turns to pain.
Adam Webb spent most of his teenage years in love with his best friend, Gabriel Connor, only to be thrown out of their shared apartment when he finally found the courage to reveal his feelings.
Seven months later, Adam’s effort to save their lost friendship finds him more than he ever asked for. After all, being thrown out has to be better than thrown into a wall. However, Adam isn’t ready to give up. Trapped and isolated in a dangerous relationship, he falls deeper and deeper into Gabriel’s world.
Despite Adam’s attempts to push them away, his friends are determined to help, but the man who fights hardest is Cameron McCain, Adam’s photography teacher—a man who treasures what Gabriel does not.
They say love should conquer all. But when passion breeds fear and love turns toxic, will Adam make the right choice?
Reader Advisory: This book contains scenes of domestic violence and dubious consent.
3.5-4 Stars
Toxic is book 2 in the Treacherous Chemistry series by Avylinn Winter, it can be read as a standalone, but Volatile was really good and Chris and Dante feature prominently in Toxic, so I suggest reading that one first.
Adam has been in love with his best friend Gabriel for what feels like forever, however, when he reveals his feelings to Gabriel, he throws him away from the room they shared. Trying to mend their relationship after a few months apart, Gabriel surprises Adam by kissing him and more and they start a relationship that needs to be kept secret since Gabriel isn’t ready (or willing) to come out of the closet. As time goes by, Gabriel insists on Adam spending most of his time with him to the point of hurting Adam when he interacts with others, until he effectively isolates Adam from his friends.
However, Adam’s friends and his teacher/boss, Cameron, notice what is going on and are determined to help Adam. The question is, will they get to him in time?
This is a difficult book to rate for me. I think the author did a great job with Adam and his relationship with Gabriel. I feel it was a realistic portrayal of someone who falls for the wrong guy and before they know it, they can’t get out of a bad relationship out of guilt or thinking they can actually change that man. I think the ending was too rushed, though, and I kind of felt like Adam was trading one dependent relationship for another, even if the new one was healthier. It just didn’t sit right with me that Cameron was both Adam’s boss and his professor, even if I’m unable to point the reason why because I’ve read other books with this theme and I’ve been fine with it. *shrugs*
Anyway, I recommend this book, but if you’re triggered by domestic violence and dubious consent, please proceed with caution. There are some scenes that are pretty graphic and they might be distressing for some.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn’t a requirement. ***
May 2 - Love Bytes Reviews, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words
May 4 - Lustful Literature, Books Laid Bare Boys, We Three Queens, Gay Book Reviews, Diverse Reader, MM Good Book Reviews
May 8 - The Novel Approach
May 10 - Making It Happen
May 12 - MM Book Escape, TTR's Wicked Words Blog
May 15 - Diverse Reader
May 17 - Bayou Book Junkie
May 19 - Sinfully MM Book Reviews
A Note from Avy...
Toxic is the second novel in the Treacherous Chemistry series, following characters introduced in Volatile. However, it can be read as a stand-alone. It's a story about love, but also about the dangers of loving what you shouldn't.
I wrote this story as an attempt to understand why we sometimes fail to recognize what's bad for us, but most of all I wrote it for Adam, and all the Adams out there across the world. I wanted to give him strength, resilience and hope in a situation far too many has to navigate.
Toxic is by no means a light read, and it would be unfair of me to label it as such. I've been known to play with readers' emotions, and Toxic is no exception. And, although it is a story about love, some will likely say this novel contains elements of general fiction. However, as long as you know what you're up against, Toxic will hopefully give you something to remember and something to ponder.
You will get to meet Dante and Chris again, but also make a new acquaintance in Cameron. If nothing else, these three will undoubtedly make you smile when you most need it. I promise.
Toxic has been posted on Wattpad as a draft, which is the reason you see ratings before the release date. It collected over a million reads on the site before I took it down for publication, which gave me some confidence that Adam's story was worth telling despite the toll it took on me.
I hope you'll let sweet Adam tell you his story because it's an important one.
Author Bio
Always the emotional one, she has found her outlet in writing, voicing thoughts, emotions and fears through her characters that feel very much alive to her. And, what began as a hobby soon took more and more time in her life until she realized that she had left her old life behind and entered a new one where her emotions turned into a super power—ready to launch at her poor readers.
She recharges with the help of coffee, cinnamon buns, popcorn and occasionally a healthier alternative.
http://www.avylinnwinter.com/
https://www.facebook.com/avylinnwinter/
https://twitter.com/AvylinnW
https://www.wattpad.com/user/Avylinn
Thank you for the review. I'm a bit on the fence about this series.
ReplyDeleteThe series is good, I just feel like book 1 was better rounded in the romance department. Toxic is more about an abusive relationship and how Adam managed to get out of it and the love story is more of an afterthought, it's still good, but I preferred Volatile.
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