3.75 stars--ASHES by Gail Haris is a stand alone, contemporary, adult, romance story line found in K.Bromberg’s multi-authored Everyday Heroes World. This is firefighter Carter Collins, and ER nurse Natalia Vasquez’s story line.


Told from dual first person perspectives (Natalia and Carter) ASHES follows the acrimonious but building romance between firefighter Carter Collins, and ER nurse Natalia Vasquez. Two years earlier, Carter Collins life imploded when he lost the love of his life, and his brother on the same night.Fast forward to present day wherein Carter struggles to move on from the past, a past mired in betrayal and heart break.Meeting ER nurse Natalie Vasquez stirs something deep within our story line hero but Carter’s delicate hold on sanity is put to the test when he discovers that Natalia Vasquez, has moved in with his grandmother after the fire that nearly claimed our heroine’s life. What ensues is the tempestuous relationship between Natalia and Carter, as Carter battles between head and heart, and the overwhelming memories that threaten any semblance of happiness for our story line hero, including a possible rival for our heroine’s heart.


Nothing has gone right for Natalia Vasquez since moving to the small town of Sunnyvale California. An apartment fire finds Natalie accepting an offer from an elderly woman who is none other than Carter Collins’ feisty grandmother but Carter continues to battle the demons from the past,and his attraction to Natalie is offset by memories of betrayal and pain. Carter Collins is a broken man, a man who believes he is not worthy of love, and has issues of trust where it concerns his heart but Carter is about to discover that the woman with whom he is falling in love has been targeted for sins of the past.


The slow building relationship between Carter and Natalia begins as professional front line workers but Carter barely sees beyond the fog of betrayal. As Carter’s grandmother Lolly sets into motion a plan to force our couple together, Carter stubbornly refuses to move beyond the demons of his past. The lone $ex scene is passionate and seductive; the sexual attraction is palpable and hot.


The colorful and energetic secondary and supporting characters include Carter’s grandmother Lolly, as well as Natalia’s parents, several hospital personnel, and firefighters; Carter’s ex-girl friend Payton, and his brother Warren,and real estate agent Seth Bohnert.


ASHES is a story of family, friendships and relationships; betrayal and heart break; acceptance and love. The premise is impassioned; the romance struggles in the face of Carter’s inability to let go of the past; the characters are responsive and dynamic.


Copy supplied by Netgalley


THE READING CAFE: http://www.thereadingcafe.com/ashes-everyday-heroes-world-by-gail-haris-a-review/



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BOOKBUB: https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/2275604498

Carter, a firefighter that is chasing ghosts from his past and has no fear of the predicaments that he gets himself into is totally thrown for a loop upon meeting Natalia, a feisty ER nurse, that has recently moved to their town for a new job. When he rescues her from a fire at her apartment, little does he know that his Lolly (grandmother) is going to start playing matchmaker after inviting Natalia to stay with her until she can find a new place to rent.

I was totally hooked into this story after reading just a few pages. I had to laugh at all of the ways that they found to antagonize each other before they got to their HEA. Thumbs up to Lolly for constantly opening windows and curtains!


Thank you to NetGalley for providing this story for me to review.

What a fun, emotional read!! Gail is one of my top favorite authors. Her stories pull you in with all the feels! This story was no different! Coming from a Hispanic heritage, it was so refreshing to read about a heroine with similar roots. Gail nailed the sass of the character and all the nosey relatives. Haha! My heart went out to Carter. When an unexpected tragedy hits home, he struggles to live life and find love, until Natalia. This story was well written and I enjoyed every bit. Carter’s grandma was the icing on the cake! Lol! 😂

This story is a perfect addition to this awesome series and is Carter and Natalie’s story. Carter is a broken man after losing his brother and the love is his life on the same night 2-years previously, and this sexy fireman thinks that he does not deserve to be loved. Natalie is a nurse in the local hospital, and she is just starting over in a new town when her apartment is destroyed in a fire that Carter rescues her from. Having to move once again Natalie finds out that broody Carter is her new neighbor, and the chemistry between them is sizzling. Can these two heal each other and move on together? This is a well written seamless story which is emotional, fun, entertaining, passionate, and a steamy all-consuming riveting and addictive page turner. I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend for all readers.

Haris leaves no emotion unexplored. Carter and Natalia are beautifully flawed and hopelessly intriguing. Ashes is more than a little bit broken, but that's one of the reason it stays on the mind and heart.

What a fantastic story written in the KB Hero’s World. To be clear, you don’t have to read those books first, but I recommend you do. You’ll appreciate Ashes even more by doing so.

I love the ride that Gail Haris takes you on through Ashes. The twists and turns, holy cow those parts that I did not see coming!!

Carter Collins is a fire fighter extraordinaire that has no qualms about going head on with a fire, accident scene... anything as a first responder. But give him Natalia Vasquez, new to Sunnyville and a nurse at the local hospital, and he has no idea how to react. The feelings he has, he has no idea how to handle them. Natalia has had a rough bout of things too throughout the book, but she’s such a strong, independent woman that she’s exactly what Carter needs.

I loved every minute of this book, and I really hope you don’t burn yourself and not read this book. It’s perfect and makes me want to request more fire fighter books from Gail! Whew!

Ashes is another great addition to KB's Everyday Heroes World. This book is an emotional standalone that I enjoyed reading. Collins, a firefighter and Natalie, a nurse, are spectacular characters. From the first chapter this book hit me with all the feels and continued until the very last page. I can't wait to see what other books are in this amazing series.

He's a firefighter his girlfriend isn't happy.But he's born to save lives.Plus he always feels guilty for not being able to save his parents.She's a emergency room nurse her boyfriend always complains when she comes home upset because she couldn't save a patient.She realizes that she's not happy an kicks him out of her life After a really long shift instead of going his team he's going to make the two hour drive to see his girlfriend an try to make her happy.While he's sharing a drink with his brother his brother tells him he should be making his fiancee happy he says he's going to see her in a bit.Then his brother says he needs to look save.And his brother leaves.As Carter leaves a call comes through Carter has a bad feeling in his stomach he jumps into his truck to see if he can help.When it comes through its a car like his brother drives his feels something is wrong he tries to call his fiancee but she doesn't answer .When he gets to the crash site his team tries to keep him back.what he sees almost completely destroys him.He happens to meet a beautiful nurse as she tries to get him to get his side seen in the er but he says he's fine an leaves.There are so many twists an turns to this story you will be riveted until the very last page an leave you begging for more. I love the way this amazing author brings the characters to life before your eyes and makes you feel their emotions and their pain.

This is not a book I would typically read but I'm definitely not sorry I did as I throughly enjoyed "ASHES".
6'4", well built, handsome Firefighter Carter is a lost soul after losing both his parents in a fire and the betrayal of his fiancee and brother who were both killed in a car accident. Feisty, beautiful, Nurse Natalia needed a change after her breakup with her longtime boyfriend and moving to small town Sunnyville was just what she needed. Carter and Natalia met under unusual circumstances and didn't hit it off when they first met. Lolly, Carter"s well meaning, interfering, nosy grandmother is an integral part of getting Carter and Natalia to see each other in a different light. This was a fun read with a couple of real unexpected twists. I really loved Lolly, everyone needs a Lolly in their lives.

Oh. My. Goodness!!! Boy oh boy, this book is filled with just about everything you'll need and them some!!!

Apparently this book was written in the KB World, created by K. Bromberg. I'll take their word for it because I'm not even sure I've read those books (hangs head). I only mention this because I didn't feel like I missed anything while reading this...it's THAT good!

Carter is a firefighter who's been through every unimaginable thing possible. Not necessarily because of his career. It's more based on his personal life, although he's seen things that should never be seen as well. Due to his issues, letting women in and opening his heart has been off limits for the past two years. So imagine his shock when a new RN nurse starts getting under his skin. Is it thick enough, or will she rip him open, only to put him back together?

Natalia is a feisty Puerto Rican and don't you dare call her Mexican. After escaping a racist relationship, she finds herself moving to a small town and starting a new job, hoping to start her life over. Little does she know that it's only just beginning. Thankfully she meets amazing people along the way who support her during unfortunate circumstances. I have to add that Lolly is by far my favorite meddling old lady....LOL

The character building and lead up (anticipation) to this relationship is some of the best I've read. It's not a wham bam situation. It feels and reads absolutely true to any "healthy" relationship, which made my instantly fall in love with this. I'm sure if you pick this up, you'll fall in love with it too.

Carter and Natalia!! Both having some seriously crappy pasts meet by chance and then continue to have run ins until Carter's grandmother intervenes. Their chemistry is off the charts and I love how they progress their relationship. Lotty had me laughing multiple times throughout the book. Great read!!

Bad past relationships have Carter and Natalia running from any kind if relationship. But when bad things start happening will Carter lower his brick walls in time to save Natalia. Loved this sexy romance with a whodunit, awesome Lolly, and Natalia's family make this a perfect weekend, curl up with a love story read❤❤❤❤ I was provided an ARC thru NetGalley and volunteered an honest opinion.

10 stars out of 5!

Warning: This book should be started earlier in the day or when you have no plans for the next day as it is addictive and a highly compulsive read. I stayed up late NEEDING to finish this.
I swear every book of Gail’s has been amazing but somehow they keep one upping the last in the wow factor!
This pulled me into the story so much that I forget about everything around myself in the real world.
I was sucked into what felt like a vortex which took so much fight to break away just to cook dinner. This was a struggle to set down.

I love Natalia and her feisty personality. Many times I wanted to yell “ata-girl!”
She is strong with a beautiful soul inside and out.
Her friends? Whoa, I actually don’t recall characters I have cheered on and loved so much as I did in this story.
Then you have Carter. Sweet, sexy, firefighter Carter who is tortured by his past.
My heart breaks for him and I want to reach out and make him all better. He is absolutely perfect and forget book boyfriend, he is officially my book HUSBAND!

Currently sporting a book hangover with this one for sure. An amazing feel good story with a twist. Every bit of this was absolutely perfect with unique story, nothing about this was that Hallmark movie cookie cutter plot. Original to the T. Highly recommend and this is a complete standalone.

Carter is a firefighter, Natalia is an ER nurse. The story starts with Carter losing his brother and girlfriend in a car accident. Natalia is moving on from her ex and starting a new life. When these two meet it is fireworks. Loved Natalia's sass.
Great book! Especially the characters that stand out.

This was one INTENSE book. It felt like there were several curveballs thrown just one after another, but then again, that's what kept it interesting. At one point, I low-key wondered how all of these problems were ever going to get solved, but then I got to the ending and figured it out lol. Anyways, I loved this book so much, and I would definitely recommend reading it if you like a good laugh and some sweetness mixed with a little steam. :)

Who doesn’t love a hot steamy fighter fighter romance! I loved this book, it was a quick read that I couldn’t put down and had to finish in one night. The tension was that epic. The only fault? I thought it was too quick! I wanted more! I loved the characters and loved the story. Lolly will having you wishing she would take you under her roof and meddle in your love life.

Ashes is part of the Everyday Heroes World collection and was the first I have read in the series and by this author. I was blown away by how good this book was! There are plenty of twists, intrigue, emotions, and danger to keep you hooked until the end.
Review to follow

A hot and steamy love story. Its an easy read and suckes you right in. Perfect to read when snuggeling.

OH MY GOODNESS!!
Well what can I say? I TOTALLY DEVOURED THIS BOOK! I couldn't stop myself because it WAS SO DAMN GOOD!
Seriously!!! YOU HAVE TO READ THIS BOOK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! ♡
Ashes by Gail Haris is my second book of this author and now it's official - I'm a huuuuge fan and I'll read all her books! LOL

This book is about Natalia and Carter. OMG! What a beauuuuutiful love story!
IT'S SO FULL OF EVERYTHING!! ♡♡
- full of emotions and heartbreak! (I cried a lot while I reading it!)
- full of drama and suspense! (I couldn't even sit still on my bed! So gripping!)
- full of funny and flirty banter! (I laughed so much because of Natalia and Carter!)
- full of looove and chemistry (SWOON ALERT!)
AND SO ON!
Well those two totally stole my heart! I really really loved their story! ♡
BRILLIANT!

Thanks to The Next Step PR and Gail Haris for this ARC.
This is my honest review about the book I read. ♡

4*
Carter is still struggling the loss of his parents, the betrayal from his brother he's sworn of dating etc.
Natalia has decided a move is in order she's unwilling to be undervalued anymore. When the two meet they don't get off on the right foot. Fortunately someone is determined to help.
Another great story.