From Glowing Embers

Tales of the Pacific #1

by Emilie Richards

Former lovers are reunited as a hurricane approaches the island of Oahu.

Once, Julianna was plain Julie Ann, a girl from the wrong side of the tracks who dared to love the son of the town's most powerful family. Gray loved her, too, and married her to give their unborn child a name, but sometimes love isn't enough. Ten years later they meet again. She is successful, beautiful, and certain that a decade ago he betrayed her, but despite their painful past, both are helpless to deny a love that never died. As secrets are slowly revealed and new and surprising friendships develop with other
refugees from the storm, the past and present come together in one tumultuous explosion.

From Glowing Embers is the first book of a four book series set among four islands in the Pacific. Smoke Screen, Rainbow Fire and Out of the Ashes follow, featuring characters introduced here.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Second Chance, Contemporary, Fiction, Amazon, Ebooks

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 1, 1988

About the author

I'm the author of seventy-something novels, including romance, women's fiction and mystery. When We Were Sisters debuted in June 2016, a stand alone novel about two foster sisters traveling back into their past together. I loved writing it and love the cover my publisher chose.

I'm also excited about my recent series, Goddesses Anonymous, which started with One Mountain Away and was followed by Somewhere Between Luck and Trust. The third book in the series, A River Too Wide, came out in July 2014. The Color of Light debuted in August 2015. Will there be more? We'll see.

I'm also putting up my newly edited romance backlist and love re-reading and updating them a bit.

Last year my husband and I moved from Virginia, to Osprey, Florida, the state where both of us were raised, met, and married. In the summer we live in Chautauqua, New York. I'm a quilter, knitter, kayaker, and the mother of four children, whom I regard as my greatest creative endeavors. And now there are four wonderful grandchildren to spoil.

Visit me at my web site, emilierichards.com, and my blog, www.emilierichards.com/blog. You can also find me at Twitter and on my Facebook reader page.

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written book from 'earlier' times. I enjoyed the tension of the main couple, the terror of the storm and the second chance that was on the table.

[Saly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was a wonderful second chance at love story from this author which featured two characters with so much history & hurt between them. h/H meet ten years later on a flight and we see the heroine react with anger & shock while the hero seems to have been expecting to run into the heroine. Gradually through flashbacks peppered in the book we learn their history, how they became friends when h was 18, H 21. h came from a terrible home life and worked & studied hard to change her circumstance while the hero came from a wealthy family in town and was in college. When they met the heroine was a skinny, undernourished teen yet these two stuck a connection that was so deep that the hero couldn't resist her and their passion resulted in pregnancy and so much of hurt & tragedy. Despite the angst you never doubted their connection, but youth and a horrible father (the hero's) had sabotaged them even before these two had the chance to build a stronger bond. The hero married her but yet circumstances left the heroine living with his parents, where the hero's father terrorised her, poisoned their marriage & the heroine didn't confide in the hero until too late & he was too young & over-worked to pay attention. A premature birth and her daughter's death make the heroine flee and the hero despite his efforts to find her over the years finds her ten years later, a woman who is a successful fashion designer & still carries so much hurt & anger over their past.

Honestly, I liked the h/H. The H's motive to find her was to get closure & move forward in life with his friend turned fiancee Paige. Much to the surprise of the heroine they aren't divorced and the hero wants to talk about the past when she doesn't. You feel for both the h/H, they fell in love when they were too young and had so many obstacles standing in their way. I normally don't like when there is another woman in the wings but it didn't bother me here because their marriage hadn't been one in ten years. I also thought I wouldn't like Paige but I did; she wasn't in love with H & he with her but they were friends who thought they could have more. You knew that it was only a matter of time before the hero saw that it wasn't closure that he wanted but a second chance with the heroine. However, the heroine who had been let down her whole life wasn't so ready to allow herself to be hurt again. I loved seeing these two work through their issues and find their way back again, older & wiser.

[C. · Rating 1 out of 5]

GAVE UP AT 50%, O-M-G nothing but Angst & MISERY, just shoot me now!

[Marjorie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is difficult to get through hardships that happen in life. Some incidences scar you so much that a person can feel like there is no happiness or love in the future. This beautifully written novel takes you through the lives of Julianna, who had once been Julie Ann Mason and Granger (Gray) Sheridan. They were married when Julie Ann was 18 and Gray, 21, but a tragedy sent Julie Ann running, hiding, and alone. Her hurt caused her to change her name. Gray, who has had his own nightmares, finds her 10 years later, and they end up stranded with three others in a house in Honolulu, buckling down to get through Hurricane Eve. Julianna and Gray are forced to face each other, and Gray insists on exploring their lives in between, as neither of them have been able to move past the tragedy that occurred early in their marriage. The other main characters, Dillon, Paige, and eight-year-old Jody are a perfect balance during the storm, and each have their own strengths and determination to protect Jody and each other. I look forward to reading the other books in this Tales of the Pacific series. Emilie is brilliant in the way she gets her readers to learn to cope with the many things that can affect all of us. This book is no different.

[Yvonne Cruz · Rating 5 out of 5]

The main characters in this book are Gray and Julianna/Julie Ann. It’s a story about the rich golden boy and the girl considered white trash by the town.
They met when they were young and formed a friendship which neither expected to flourish.
Life throws them some curveballs and after she disappeared 10 years ago, they meet again after Gray finds her. Both want closure, since their issues were never resolved.
But what draws me to this book is much more than the storyline.
Society tends to judge people by their status i and some might not understand that we are all equal. Also, when you are young , the obstacles we encounter can overwhelm us, and figures of authority might scare us as well. Lack of communication, assumptions, and heartaches make matters worse. As we get older we wonder if things might have been different had we had the maturity, and confidence that we now possess.
Will these two have a happy ending? Read the story and experience their journey. It’s part of a series , but is a standalone. Though I am ready to search for book 2.

[Melanie S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Julianna and Gray, estranged spouses, meet on a flight to Hawaii, where they end up stranded together by a hurricane. The story of their ten-year relationship is told in the present and in flashbacks. Author Richards skillfully weaves past and present, his point of view and hers, to tell the tale of two people scarred by hard lives, brutal family betrayals, and the tragic loss of their only child. With the raging hurricane as metaphor for their struggles, their enforced togetherness reveals how little they truly understand each other, themselves, and their emotions. They have come to the point where they must settle old issues and move on, but in what direction? Finding the courage to stay together is the theme of their relationship, and the challenge they still face. It's a heartbreaking and heartwarming lesson in moving beyond survival to thriving, living fully, and loving without reservations.

[Marcella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story but a bit slow. Written in the 1990s and it shows - especially the bit about her father-in-law is a bit unbelievable.

[Whitney · Rating 3 out of 5]

The characters were good, but the main character's issues seemed to go on forever at the end.

[Linda Rorex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Juliana and Gray live on Oahu they fall in love and marry and have a child who doesn’t survive. Their relationship doesn’t work out and they both part ways. After ten years Juliana returns and Gray and Juliana still love each other but need to work out their past differences to move on with their romantic relationship. I really enjoyed this second chance at love romance novel.

[Katrice Lyness · Rating 5 out of 5]

Young love

To have love and be innocent and then have a rich controlling father making promises to his son and tearing apart that innocent love and the effects that it made on the two in love very sad

[Vanessa Lawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have no words to describe how could this was.

I laughed, I had my heartbroken and put together and I cried. This is a sweet story about 1st love and second chance.

A definite must read. I cannot wait to read the rest of the books in the series.

[Ruth A Calvin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading this book. SOmeone knew a lot about hurricanes but since it's too close to hurricane season in Florida I am familiar with them. Story was good, characters annoying at times but all in all I would recommend this read.

[Karen Sheldon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked this book

Very enjoyable first book in a series; the backdrop being a hurricane in Hawaii was also a nice touch which allowed the book to have more depth.

[光彩 · Rating 1 out of 5]

eh

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing surprise this turned out to be. I purchased an anthology with several authors and this book was not even the reason I chose the collection. The angst in this book is off the charts. I read voraciously and it takes a lot to move me. I cried numerous times reading From Glowing Embers. This is book 1 of 4 and I have downloaded the other 3. Having never read Emilie Richards, I wasn't sure what to expect. This story wrenches your heart. Julianna and Gray are doomed from the start as a young teen couple with an unexpected pregnancy. She is "white trash" and he is the rich boy with a diabolical father. It's downhill from there and only through some unique circumstances years after they are separated, are they able to reconcile. I wasn't really sure it could happen. Can't wait to read the rest of the series.

[Melinus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't let the name or cover fool you to think this is a perfect beach or vacation read. It is neither peachy nor sunsets at the beach.
But it made almost the 5 star list, and the reason it didn't are:
1st I am not a huge fan of flashbacks when we change scenes and time to look back. It usually goes on till the end but not in this book, it stopped about 60% into the book and the the story progressed without. So thats what made it almost enjoyable.
2nd there were a lot of deep and painfully traumatic events in the past as well as the present. What I personally didn't like was the way the author made the characters handle them I felt unsatisfied how little to no action was taken against those who caused so much pain. And then they didn't cope at all.

So except for those two very personal problems it was a good book.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Often when a favorite author reissues a novel written earlier in their writing career, I have been disappointed in the plot and writing style, but not so with From Glowing Embers by Emilie Richards. The book resounds with strong characters. The story is reveal amidst an approaching hurricane on a Hawaiian Island with flashbacks to a time of friendship and romance. The plot resembles a mystery as the storyline is revealed with the main characters, Julia Anna/Julianne and Gray. The mix of characters including a current girlfriend, a past lover, a child and an Australian traveler added a nice tension to the story. How wonderful to discover that there are four books in the Tales of the Pacific series. All four have been revised and reissued. Yahoo! Three additional novels (Smoke Screen, Rainbow Fire and Out of the Ashes) by Ms. Richards to read and experience.

[Nancy Brady · Rating 3 out of 5]

A second chance romance that finds Julie Ann Mason (now renamed Julianna) and Gray Sheridan meeting up on a plane to Hawaii after ten years apart. Caught in a hurricane along with Australian Dillon, Paige, the woman he plans on marrying, and Jody, a friend's daughter, they are forced together.

Married ten years ago, the death of their daughter Ellie broke them apart, or that's how Julie Ann saw it. Running away without explanation, she has reinvented herself, but the feelings haven't changed. Or have they? Will they get a divorce or will they finally reconcile, finally coming to terms with their past?

Not a steamy read, but a romance that will stir heartstrings.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Touching story of "star-crossed lovers" (rich boy/poor girl) and how love and fate pull through against the odds. Gray and Julie Ann's relationship at the beginning reminds me of relationships from my teens. Even after they split up and have to work through all the anger, betrayal, misunderstandings, etc. I am taken back to my early twenties when relationships weren't easy. Makes me happy that things have a way of working themselves out for the best, even as my life has. Can't wait to read the next in the series as I'm sure it will take me on another roller coaster journey in my own past.

[SOMDReigel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meant to be Together

First published in 1988 this is an oldie but goodie; first of four books series. This is a story of second chances after confronting the past. A decade filled with suffering, misunderstandings, guilt, and anger. A love that came too soon for a couple not ready for it. The writing makes you feel. I was drawn into the story. I felt involved in their life and also felt their grief. This is the first book of Emilie Richards that I have read. I look forward to reading future books by her.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in the Tales of the Pacific series and I can't wait to get started on book 2 in the series. Emilie's books always have a strong emphasis on relationships and that's the important theme of this book. Gray is the rich boy and Julie Ann is the poor girl from the wrong side of the tracks. They meet and fall in love and after losing their baby, she runs away to start a new life. The book takes place when Gray finds her ten years later. Can they get past the pain of their past and make a new future together? This is a great book and I highly recommend it.

[Denise Vasak · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was great. It started out strong with a real story (which is always nice) and then progressed from there. I thought the back and forth of times was good and the story was a strong one. I wasn't a huge fan of some of the contrivance near the end but it was minor in comparison to the rest of the book. I could see this sold as a movie some where or a Lifetime movie and would totally check it out.

[Barbara "Cookie" Serfaty Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

From Glowing Embers (Tales of the Pacific Book 1)

The love story of Julianna ands Gray. Ten year ago Julianna and Gray were marry and had a daughter but she die. During her funeral, Juliann ran away. For ten years she thought Gray had hated her and divorce her. How she is a famous clothes designer and Gray has found her. Can they found love and end their grief or will they go in different ways. You love it.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good reading

I had a hard time getting into the story. Gray and Juliana were from different ways of life. His family had money and her family was poor. They met at an early age and fell in love. It took me a long time to get into the book but I enjoyed reading it. There was a lot of twists in the story line. It took some time to get their life back on track. It ended up being a good book.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Character driven, tormented souls who through the fickle finger of Fate find themselves on the same plane after 10 years apart. Trying to heal wounds that go deep. Due to a hurricane their paths are linked and must confront the demons of the past. Richards masterfully weaves their story and makes it believable.

[Barbara Troutman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartfelt story

Although the book made me sad at times, I could not put it down. It was a sad story about a girl from the wrong side of the tracks and the rich boy who loved her. I did get a little frustrated toward the end due to her fear of his love but all in all it was a great read.

[Doina Condrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gave me so many feelings. Sadness, anger, hope. I haven't sobbed so hard while reading a book since last year when I read From The Wreckage. It's an insane roller coaster that I'm so happy I took. It was amazing!!

[Stace]

Reunion boxed set

[donnamauldin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good

This is the kind of book that you do not want to put down. Very good romance. This book is very true to life.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is a great book to read