Carmen traces her fingertip over the glass the way she touched the tattoos on my chest, as if she's trying to learn something she can't see with her eyes alone.

Coming off my previous read where it seemed like an outsider tried to write an insider life, this is refreshing. I said in the first of this series that I thought Hopkins showed her research by creating complex ex-con and gang members in respectful and not miraculous light. I think she did the same here, but Eddie 'Trouble' Rosas wasn't as immediately committed to going straight as his elder brother Sal. He's a little more at peace, still has shit to make a character interesting, yet you never think this is a bad human. He's just multi-dimensional.

And he's a romantic. He doesn't mind admitting it, he adorably puts his heart right out there. In fact there's a line about 'shoving it behind his ribcage' again. He's still tough and hard and all the things you'd imagine coming from someone with a bit of damage, someone who's done hard time, and has issues in their past. But he's not beyond hope or help.

"Do you know," I say slowly, "what it feels like when everyone has given up on you?"

Hopkins style matches this first person POV-with wonderfully observant and straightforward narrative from Eddie's POV. It works on many levels, but particularly for someone taking it day-by-day and doing his best while trying to figure out his next move.

One step forward, then another. The pavement seems to pound me back, letting me know I'm still alive, that I still have the ability to do something about this fucking mess.

It's extraordinarily sexy, a bit gritty, and once again--as a heroine-centric reader--I felt lacking the depth that I typically get from identifying with the heroine. Carmen doesn't stand out, though we have a sense of who she is, I feel this is really a book about Eddie's journey and not centered on the romance in a way that invested me in anything but Eddie deserving his happy ending. IT's not bad, it's just not my favorite type of romance. It's worth a read if the premise appeals-because if you take anything from this review-take that I love Hopkins's respect for what she's writing about (pride in neighborhood, one's path through going straight and getting out, and-after my last book-people who aren't nearly middle class and not in the least maligned for it) and how she breathes life into her characters through these happy endings.

And good lord, he brought her herbs. ( )

Oh my hot! There were a few slow spots, but they were necessary to explain things in the story. In the first book I couldn't figure out a lot of the Spanish phrases, it was a lot easier in this book to know what was being said. Eddie and Carmen are perfect together, and I love how Eddie works to get out of the gang and start a new life. It looks like there's another book in the series coming next year, can't wait!

This review is based on an ARC from NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher. All opinions are my own. ( )

Trashed by Mia Hopkins
Eastside Brewery #2

What a treat to spend the day with Eddie and Carmen today! Everything flowed and was perfect and absolutely made my day!

Eddie is just out of prison and sees a woman in the garden...a woman he has hot passionate anonymous s*x with and then she disappears. He runs into her months later at his new job washing dishes in the restaurant she chefs in and the chemistry is still there and they soon act upon that chemistry in delightful and wonderful and steamy ways. I really enjoyed this couple together because they brought the best out in one another and neither was a pushover.

In addition to the romance there were threads in the story that dealt with the gang Eddie and his brother Sal were members of, family issues Eddie wanted resolved, Sal’s desire to open a business showcasing the craft beer he produces, trying to determine what future there was for all of the main characters, friendships and family and a whole lot more.

Did I enjoy this book? Definitely!
Would I like to read the next book in the series? Without a doubt!

Thank you to NetGalley and Little Stone Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars ( )