Review on 'From the Embers' by Aly Martinez 🔥

Amazon Link: https://amzn.eu/d/0lDzy2W

Author: Aly Martinez

Format Read: Paperback

Pages: 275

Publication Date: 20 Dec. 2022

Author Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authoralymartinez/

Author Website: https://alymartinez.com/

Content Warnings: Arson, death of a partner/parent, kidnapping, explicit sexual scenes, cheating (not FMC/MMC), grief

Review:

While reading another book, this one suddenly came to mind. It had been sitting on my shelf for the past year since I read it for the first time, and I desperately wanted to experience it again. I did have other books planned to read, but when the urge to revisit a story hits, you just have to follow it. And I did!

I love that I could read it again. Even though nothing can quite replicate the feeling of reading it for the first time, it came pretty close. It had been so long since my last read that I didn't remember many of the smaller moments in the book, though the main plot stayed with me. However, in stories like this, particularly romances, the main plot isn’t always the most important part; it’s all the little moments that truly matter (and are often the ones you forget).

Let’s start with this: the book isn't about people struggling with jobs and moral choices. It's a story about grief and the process of rebuilding after loss. It’s about finding light at the end of the tunnel, illustrating how everyone’s journey through pain is different. This is beautifully portrayed through the characters Eason and Bree, who lose their partners in a fire. Left with three grieving children, they must navigate their own sorrow while continuing to care for the kids.

The book opens with the characters we soon lose. While their absence may not weigh as heavily later on, the initial shock of meeting them only to have them taken away remains striking. I’ve only read a few books like this, and even though I had read this one before, the loss still felt sudden and impactful.

Bree was a stay-at-home mom, left to deal with the devastation of her husband’s actions, which included stealing everything from her small company. Eason, a struggling artist, relied on selling his songs to make ends meet. After losing their partners, they make a practical yet emotional decision to live together, supporting each other as they raise their children and attempt to rebuild their lives.

They had a plan. A plan that worked. Over the two years of living together, they built themselves up from scratch, forming a solid and supportive team. The two-year time jump was crucial for me because I didn't want to remain stuck in a space where they were solely consumed by grief. The jump added a layer of realism, emphasising that grief isn’t something you simply overcome in a few months. It’s a process that takes years, and while their lives are different now, Martinez captured their journey so beautifully that it was impossible not to be moved. The bond she created between Eason, Bree, and the children formed a powerful family unit.

This story is so heartfelt and beautiful that putting my feelings into words is difficult. It genuinely encapsulated their pain, highlighting significant moments in vivid detail while effectively summarising the days, weeks, and months that followed. The way in which it was written was never boring; the transitions between scenes was just enough that it didn’t mess up the story, but it in fact, helped the story along. It made sure that it wasn't stagnant and at no point did I feel stuck in one place for too long.

I believe this book is essential reading for anyone seeking a story about loss, heartbreak, and the unexpected ways love can emerge. It's a touching reminder of the resilience of the human spirit.

Until the next chapter,

#BellesBookBabble