Let me start this with:

I was pleasantly surprised with this book. There were parts that didn't quite read as full as some of my favorite authors (I don't really know how to explain that sentiment, just that at times, the writing felt off just a bit). I also felt that some of the things Asher did weren't really age-appropriate (sans the thumb sucking -- working with children, I'm fully aware how some revert due to stress), but while his big confession that causes the whole plot bang in the book wasn't what I would call a nine-year-old declaration, I understand the author's need to make him nine for the sake of everything else in the story. One other thing I was disappointed in? I wanted to know the man's tattoos! Sure, we get to know the clock, but I was super interested in the one on his neck/back...

Anywho.

After a car accident took their parents, Maggie becomes the sole guardian of her nine year old brother, Asher. Deciding that she needs to go back to school, Maggie settles the two of them into an apartment in a town she wants to get away from.

Growing up, Maggie was one of the "mean" girls. She smoked, drank, and often had negative things to say. However she is now a different person -- or so she tries.

Her one vice, I would say, would be she still smokes, because it's a stress reliever, much like her brother sucking his thumb -- something she wants him to kick, but their therapist says that it will go away in time.

Luke has lived a priveledged life -- on the outside.

Inside the walls of the family home, he and his five siblings have been parented by nannies, have a mother who ignores them, and a father who beats them. Much to the family's demise, he gave up the fast-track to being a lawyer, to be a gym teacher -- what he really wants in life is to help some child who was like him, who hadn't been helped and could have used it. And while he'd rather be anywhere but home, he takes a job at an elementary school nearby -- at least it's not the prep school his parents would rather he teach at.

The only reason he stays home is because he still has siblings living at home. When he sees a scratch on his sister Lilly's face, and she says that it was nothing, he'd just hit her because she was failing her summer college level course, Luke sees red.

Luke is very much a protective guy -- with his family, and then eventually with Asher and Maggie. His biggest fear is becoming his father, which no amount of damage could do because Luke is such a loving, giving person.

I rather enjoyed the slow progression of Maggie and Luke's romance. I liked that it started out bickering; I liked that he was intrigued by his classmate with the young son (even though he didn't take a moment to ponder the age difference). It was, however, unrealistically coincidental that on the very night he proclaims he's keeping his familial life to himself, Maggie gets a good wiff of it -- and yet, that night was not the driving part in the fall out of the story.

I most enjoyed the fact that Luke called her Sunshine the first day in class, then Sunny after, much to Maggie's distaste -- but the nickname grew on her. She is his sunshine; she is the brightness to his days. So the fact that Sunny stuck? Gah, I love it.

Annddd... que the epilogue reader-comment: my goodness, this epi was a good one. I love how much Luke loves Maggie, and I love what a great father figure he gives Asher. It's obviously a bit of a learning curve for Maggie and Luke to raise Asher, but I think they'll do just fine.

As I had not heard of Taylor Lavati pre-this tour, I'm curious as to what this book will bring forth. I'm rooting for a series, with Linds and Finn next? Yeah? Oh, yeah... I want stories for all those Wilson kids, but eventually I really want to see Liam's story. Granted, he's just a baby... he's got a good 8, 9, 10 years to grow up but I'd like to see his story, too.

I really enjoyed this book. Once I picked it up, I had a hard time putting it down. The author has written a wonderful story about two people who discover that they just don't want each other, but they NEED each other.

Maggie has a lot on her plate. Ash is an awesome kid, but she is acting as both a mother and father to him while going to school and working. She is doing everything she can to give Ash the best upbringing that she can, even if that means making some personal sacrifices. Luke is Ash's phys ed teacher and goes to school with Maggie. He grew up in a house that had him taking the brunt of his father's anger. He now feels like he needs to protect his younger brother and sisters, while trying to figure out what he really wants in life.

On paper, a relationship between these two seems like a really bad idea. Once Maggie and Luke spend some time together and get to know each other, they just can't stay away. They complement each other and are actually a perfect fit. Even Luke's siblings welcome Maggie and Ash with open arms.

I LOVED Luke...he was exactly what Maggie needed. He helped open her eyes to not only the idea that she should accept help when people offer, but also that falling in love doesn't mean that she has to neglect Ash. Luke's relationship with Ash was adorable and made me swoon all over the place. Unfortunately not everything is sunshine and roses and when things go to crap and Maggie keeps her distance from Luke, he gives her the space she needs. It's really hard for him to stay away, but he knows that the separation needs to happen if he wants to build a life with Maggie and Ash. It was hard for him to understand, but once he does, he knows what he has to do.

I don't know if the author is planning on turning this into a series, but I would to love to read more about Luke's siblings. So if you are reading this, Taylor Lavati, more books about the Wilson siblings! Please!

For the Love of Ash may be Taylor Lavati’s best novel to date. With this standalone romance, Lavati moves into new territory and proves her versatility as a writer. Fans of her earlier novels will not be disappointed. For the Love of Ash is a realistic contemporary romance with a plot crafted to be just as exciting as any of her fantasy stories.

Maggie is a young woman raising her brother, Ash, after the death of her parents, trying to juggle the responsibilities of college, work, and the new parenthood that has been thrust upon her. Luke is a spoiled rich boy with a dark past who has abandoned the ideals of his wealthy family to become an elementary school teacher. Maggie immediately dislikes the arrogant Luke, but the two are forced together both in a college course and when Luke becomes Ash’s gym teacher. Though the developing love story between them is a central focus of the book, this is much more than a typical romance. The book deals with ideas like what it means to navigate the boundary into adulthood when you still feel like a child, what it means to be a parent without ever having had a role model, and how much people are willing to sacrifice for love, both romantic love and love of family.

Lavati is so skilled at using details to bring characters to life that they practically leap off the page. Readers will both laugh and cry at the struggles these characters face, and the obstacles thrown at them will have the reader quickly turning pages to see how it all turns out. One of the greatest strengths of this book is the way Lavati develops her characters so that they realistically grow and change over the course of the novel. Though the expertly crafted, high-stakes plot will hook readers from the beginning, it is the characters that will ensure that this book sticks with readers for a long, long time.

"For the Love of Ash" by Taylor Lavati was a rare 5-star read for me. It's a standalone, so I fully recommend jumping right in as soon as possible! I honestly find many typical romances rather dull and predictable. This was not the case at all here; there was nothing average about the romance, overall storyline, and the long list of supporting characters, which were all multi-dimensional and felt just as real as the main characters. There was a lot to follow, but not in a bad way; it kept the book moving at a fast pace, and I found myself filing away facts about each character for future use automatically. Every scene in the book was so vivid that I felt as if I were there experiencing everything with them.

Twenty-three-year-old Maggie is mother to nine-year-old Asher (Ash), who is also her brother. My heart melted the first time he called her "Mom." His explanation is even better!

Ash: "Everyone at school talks about their moms, and I think I don't want to say 'Maggie' 'cause that's stupid. I just think you're my mom more than our real mom was before anyway."

Anyway, Maggie does a circus-worthy balancing act trying to take care of Ash, finish college and work to support them both. The last thing on her mind is romance. She is much too busy doubting her parenting abilities and worrying about her choices will affect Ash. In some books, that could come off as annoying, but here, we are shown this through her acts of devotion as she drives him over an hour to his hockey games and practices and tucks him in at night. It's heart-warming, and it puts the reader into their lives in a heartbeat. For example, Ash wants to watch a DVD after dinner with Maggie.

Her internal response: "Asher forced me to watch with him, and by forced, I mean he widened his light green eyes, stuck out his ruby bottom lip, and begged like a puppy. I couldn't deny his beautiful face, despite the work I had to do tonight, so I sat next to him."

Ash is a great kid, who radiates positivity, and made me smile more than once.

Luke, who is also twenty-three, has the weight of several siblings on his shoulders. He returned from college to live at home in order to protect his brother and sisters from their physically abusive father. There are a few incidents of physical child abuse, and though we see the children after the fact, it's no less disturbing to witness their injuries. On some occasions, Luke is the one in need of a protector, and his older sister, Lindsay, offers her apartment when needed while she stays behind to watch the kids.

Luke: "I didn't know what to do to make this better. However, I knew Lindsay was right. I couldn't stay. I just didn't want to leave them to deal with the broken pieces."

Luke attends the same college as Maggie to finish his education. Both are setting out to become teachers. They have more in common right off the bat than even they realize. Both come from dysfunctional home environments. Luke has his "Father" to contend with, and Maggie is under the thumb of her wicked grandmother, who wants custody of Ash.

Luke is drawn to Maggie without completely knowing why, and, subconsciously, the feeling is mutual. He spends an equal amount of time trying to breach her defenses and trying to convince himself he isn't good enough for her, because he thinks he's like his father (a fear with no basis in reality at all).

Along the way, Maggie makes a few friends, who add such texture to the tale (along with Luke's siblings), and all are able to guide her in their own ways when she doesn't know what to do or which end is up.

They both have baggage and issues. They both have people to protect. Can they build a lasting relationship amidst all of the chaos or is the timing just not right?

I enjoyed finding out the answers to those questions. My only complaint is that I wish I knew how a couple of minor issues with the supporting characters turned out, and that especially applies the villains of the story. Even my complaint is praise, however. To make a reader care about minor characters and still stay on track with the main story thread is no small task! I truly couldn't put this down. The variety of emotions tapped into all felt very genuine to me, and I was sorry to reach the final page. I'm chintzy with my stars. "For the Love of Ash" really earned all of them.

Written by Amelia for Summer’s Book Blog

This is the first book of Taylor's that I have read and I must say it won't be the last.

I loved everything about it. The characters were so easy to fall in love with, especially Asher, he was such a cutie that will melt your heart. Maggie is a strong female character that takes on the roll as Asher's mom when their parents die. She is an inspiration to all young mothers who try to juggle kids and life. Luke is a new teacher with several siblings that he feels the need to protect from their father, who is a nasty piece of work.

I fell in love with the story from the very first chapter and couldn't put it down. I devoured it in a few hours and was sent on a roller-coater of emotions through this beautiful story.

All of Taylor's books are now in my TBR list on Goodreads.

This book was so beautifully, that you felt and went through everything with the all of the characters, even the supporting characters.

If you like realistic romance you will LOVE this!

 was extremely surprise when I looked up Taylor Lavati and saw she is only 23 years old. Prior to reading this book I had never heard of her and I am very happy to have found her. I look forward to reading more of her work. I enjoyed the story line and all characters in the book. Two characters who have both been through similar issues growing up and have their own issues from their past to work through are brought together in more then one aspect of their lives. Their relationships with their siblings is makes you fall in love with them even more and makes them very easy to relate to. Their journey through their struggles, what is priority to them, and their attraction to each other keeps you on your toes to the very end. Although this is listed as a standalone I would love to see more from the other characters I met in this story.

Maggie gave up her carefree live it up college life to raise her brother Asher. Keeping to herself she devoted her time to raising him right. Then Luke pops into her life. Luke is looking forward to finishing college, getting his brothers and sisters settled away from their abusive father and leaving the country to teach overseas. Luke wants to get to know Maggie but she doesn't want to take a chance on any relationship. But somehow Luke breaks through her walls. As they work through their issues can they make this relationship work or are they just setting themselves up for heartbreak.

This story was not predictable in any way. Just when you thought you could tell where it was going it changes directions. Keeps you on your toes. Both Luke and Maggie are wonderful characters. You hurt with them and you love with them. There are quite a few supporting characters that really give depth to the story. Also you can't help but fall in love with Asher.

* * * * * 5 Star Review

When life hands you lemons you make lemonade and that is exactly what Maggie Larken did when she was left raising her nine year old brother.

Maggie and Asher Larken were trying to make a better life for themselves since now she has become someone's mom. Never did she had someone telling her how good she was so she was determined to show her grandmother that she could raise her now son.

Luke Wilson was a gym teacher, he had a plan but it seems that his plan was not going to happen anytime soon. His brother and sisters needed him from the monster. When he meets Maggie while taking college classes the last thing in his mind was the impact they both will have in each other's lives.

Maggie, Asher and Luke will take you to an emotional journey. Love, compassion, perseverance, loyalty, and respect are the key to this incredible and amazing love story.

You don't want to miss this beautiful book. I recommend for you to read it.
 

Reviewed for A Wanton Book Lover Blog:

Maggie is a 23 year old reformed party girl. She has been grated custotedy of her 9 year old brother Asher. Maggie is struggling to work to support her and her brother, finish college so that she can become a teacher which would allow them to live more comfortably, and try to be the best guardian/parent to her young brother while allowing him to participate in a sport that he loves, hockey.
Luke is also 23 and attending college to finish his degree in education. He has move home to help protect and keep an eye out for his younger sisters and brother as Luke’s dad had a habit of hitting him when he was younger. Luke is struggling to help his siblings, finish his classes, and work as a PE teacher (although as a teacher myself, I don’t know how he would get a “teaching” job without having finished classes).
Luke and Maggie meet each other in class. Maggie is attracted to Luke but she doesn’t have the time or energy to devote to a relationship; she pours everything she has into caring for her brother. Luke continues to pursue her and discovers that her brother Ash is in his class at the school where he works.
Luke and Maggie finally find their ways to each other but the journey was not easy.
For the Love of Ash was a well-written novel. The story was developed, providing details to create the perfect image in my mind while reading. The characters of Luke and Maggie were realistic; they both struggled with real issues that many people deal with today while trying to develop a relationship. Taylor Lavati’s story pulled me in; I kept hoping for the happily-ever-after for Maggie and Luke. I wanted to see them reach happiness through each other. For the Love of Ash is a stand-alone.