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Ashes #1
Ashes
Alternate cover edition can be found here.
Anonymous. That was Jennifer's life. But when she survived a domestic terrorist attack and her last-minute escape became the iconic image of the event, that life was over. Wanting only to disappear and become just another face in the crowd, she cashed in on her unwanted fame and moved to a small town, hidden away and safe.
Retired. That was Sean's life. A former covert operative - the kind the government denies exists - he'd been pushed unwillingly into a life of suburban peace and quiet. But his retirement ended when he saw Jennifer's rescue; from then on he only wanted to find those responsible for the attack, even if it meant turning rogue.
What Jennifer and Sean will both find is that nothing goes to plan, and their paths will cross in a way neither could have foreseen.
Anonymous. That was Jennifer's life. But when she survived a domestic terrorist attack and her last-minute escape became the iconic image of the event, that life was over. Wanting only to disappear and become just another face in the crowd, she cashed in on her unwanted fame and moved to a small town, hidden away and safe.
Retired. That was Sean's life. A former covert operative - the kind the government denies exists - he'd been pushed unwillingly into a life of suburban peace and quiet. But his retirement ended when he saw Jennifer's rescue; from then on he only wanted to find those responsible for the attack, even if it meant turning rogue.
What Jennifer and Sean will both find is that nothing goes to plan, and their paths will cross in a way neither could have foreseen.
356 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 2, 2013
278 people are currently reading
1018 people want to read
About the author
Kelly Cozy
21 books28 followersKelly Cozy became hooked on books in early infancy, when she turned one of her parents' paperbacks into a teething ring. She lives in California with her husband, son, and cats. Her hobbies include cooking, reading, watching movies, and attending nerdy conventions.
She is the author of The Day After Yesterday (contemporary fiction) and of Ashes and Reckoning (suspense series).
Visit her on Facebook
She is the author of The Day After Yesterday (contemporary fiction) and of Ashes and Reckoning (suspense series).
Visit her on Facebook
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
July 6, 2013
HOLY SMOKES! Ashes by Kelly Cozy had me glued by the first few pages! This has been the most suspenseful story that I have read in a long time. The story begins with Jennifer Thomson going to work on a typical work day in Los Angeles, talking with her co-workers and making her way to the copy room to make copies. Then her building explodes. She has to fight her way through death, destruction and a collapsing building to get out. She walks past co-workers that she had just spoke with that are now dead. She was the only survivor in her department. Unbeknownst to her, the image of her being carried out by the firefighter was splashed across the nation, making her an instant hero.
All the way across the states in Florida, Sean Kincaid watched the catastrophe unfold as millions of Americans did that day. He was an early retiree, living in Florida, living a low key life, trying to blend in and not be noticed. He was a former covert operative, he performed secret missions and caused plenty of death and destruction of his own. Watching this news unfold wasn't a big deal for him until he saw Jennifer emerge on the tv screen amidst all the dust and debris. This woman touched something inside of him and he had to help her.
Now, this is where I thought the story would be about how Sean travels to find Jennifer and help her heal and they fall madly in love.....you know, typical romance stuff. Nope. Not in this book. What unfolds is one of the most interesting books I've read in a while. Sean decides he must find the persons responsible for this attack and bring them to Jennifer so she can serve up her own type of revenge. Using his skills that he learned in his former job, he begins his journey of investigating and tracking down who committed this crime. Meanwhile Jennifer struggles with returning back to a normal existence. She decides to relocate to a small town where hopefully no one would know who she is and begin a new life. It takes her a very long time, but she begins to function and make a happy life for herself. But just when she begins realizing how happy she is, Sean barges into her life, declaring how he has captured the person responsible for the bombing and presents the person to Jennifer to seek her revenge. Keep in mind, Jennifer never knew Sean or that he was going to do this, so she's terrified, shocked, scared..... you name it, she's feeling it. So here she is, looking at the bomber, the person who altered her life forever. Sean has given her a gun and tells her do whatever she wants. Oh what to do???? What to do????? She makes a choice. And guess what? That is where the book ends. NOOOOOOOOO! What happened? What did Jennifer do? I have no idea! OMG, it was the best cliffhanger EVER! I was reading this on my e-reader, I swear I turned the e-reader over, looking for more pages. The last sentence says "The story continues in Reckoning." Well, I do believe I will be reading Reckoning very soon. People, read this book. I was very brief on my descriptions because I didn't want to give too much away. There is so much that happens within those pages and my review would never do the book justice. READ IT!
All the way across the states in Florida, Sean Kincaid watched the catastrophe unfold as millions of Americans did that day. He was an early retiree, living in Florida, living a low key life, trying to blend in and not be noticed. He was a former covert operative, he performed secret missions and caused plenty of death and destruction of his own. Watching this news unfold wasn't a big deal for him until he saw Jennifer emerge on the tv screen amidst all the dust and debris. This woman touched something inside of him and he had to help her.
Now, this is where I thought the story would be about how Sean travels to find Jennifer and help her heal and they fall madly in love.....you know, typical romance stuff. Nope. Not in this book. What unfolds is one of the most interesting books I've read in a while. Sean decides he must find the persons responsible for this attack and bring them to Jennifer so she can serve up her own type of revenge. Using his skills that he learned in his former job, he begins his journey of investigating and tracking down who committed this crime. Meanwhile Jennifer struggles with returning back to a normal existence. She decides to relocate to a small town where hopefully no one would know who she is and begin a new life. It takes her a very long time, but she begins to function and make a happy life for herself. But just when she begins realizing how happy she is, Sean barges into her life, declaring how he has captured the person responsible for the bombing and presents the person to Jennifer to seek her revenge. Keep in mind, Jennifer never knew Sean or that he was going to do this, so she's terrified, shocked, scared..... you name it, she's feeling it. So here she is, looking at the bomber, the person who altered her life forever. Sean has given her a gun and tells her do whatever she wants. Oh what to do???? What to do????? She makes a choice. And guess what? That is where the book ends. NOOOOOOOOO! What happened? What did Jennifer do? I have no idea! OMG, it was the best cliffhanger EVER! I was reading this on my e-reader, I swear I turned the e-reader over, looking for more pages. The last sentence says "The story continues in Reckoning." Well, I do believe I will be reading Reckoning very soon. People, read this book. I was very brief on my descriptions because I didn't want to give too much away. There is so much that happens within those pages and my review would never do the book justice. READ IT!
July 26, 2013
Jennifer Thomson is average. She doesn’t have amazing dreams or expectations. She has an okay life. The low points are getting yelled at for showing up late at work. The high points are not getting yelled at for sneaking in late to work…
…and then her average little world gets blown to pieces.
Jennifer’s workplace is rocked by an explosion, and everyone tries to escape. She is among the survivors; the last one out. The image of her being taken to safety by an emergency responder becomes iconic. Her average, little life is consumed by nightmares, press inquiries, and probing, unwanted questions. Jennifer is left in a lonely place where average would seem like paradise.
Across the nation, former undercover government agent Sean Kincaid goes through his average life. Sean’s “average” is just a cover. The neighbors wave and smile, but none of them know about Sean’s past – the battles he’s fought, the people he’s killed. Sean has gone from laughing in the face of death to being put out to pasture. When he sees Jennifer’s rescue on the news, something sparks within him. He commits to finding those responsible for the attack, and getting justice for the innocent girl who barely made it out alive.
“Ashes” focuses on becoming someone new and overcoming the past. Author Kelly Cozy (The Day After Yesterday) rolls out an interesting path of transformation for her protagonists. The two lead characters couldn’t seem further apart, yet their lives are meant to intersect, Sean will make certain of that. The story following the attack begins slow, ramping up the closer Sean and Jennifer get. Cozy describes environments in vivid detail. Readers will find themselves immersed in fast-paced Los Angeles, humid Florida, and among the pines in British Columbia.
Relationships are also at the core of the story. Jennifer’s support network changes many times, and readers will enjoy the many different characters with whom she interacts. Sean is much more of a lone wolf, but his undercover work puts him face to face with some really fun bad guys. A run-in with a former colleague provides one of the breathtaking highlights of the book.
“Ashes” is the first in a duo of books, to be followed by “Reckoning” in late 2013. Reading “Ashes” following the recent attacks at the Boston marathon provided an interesting experience. Cozy gets the opening chapter across without overdoing it. She paints a picture of the terrorist attack, and the ensuing news coverage, that is reminiscent of the attacks on September 11, 2001.
“Ashes” takes a little while to get going, but the payoff is very effective. When the two transforming protagonists finally meet, the stage is set for a tense interaction that will change their lives forever.
…and then her average little world gets blown to pieces.
Jennifer’s workplace is rocked by an explosion, and everyone tries to escape. She is among the survivors; the last one out. The image of her being taken to safety by an emergency responder becomes iconic. Her average, little life is consumed by nightmares, press inquiries, and probing, unwanted questions. Jennifer is left in a lonely place where average would seem like paradise.
Across the nation, former undercover government agent Sean Kincaid goes through his average life. Sean’s “average” is just a cover. The neighbors wave and smile, but none of them know about Sean’s past – the battles he’s fought, the people he’s killed. Sean has gone from laughing in the face of death to being put out to pasture. When he sees Jennifer’s rescue on the news, something sparks within him. He commits to finding those responsible for the attack, and getting justice for the innocent girl who barely made it out alive.
“Ashes” focuses on becoming someone new and overcoming the past. Author Kelly Cozy (The Day After Yesterday) rolls out an interesting path of transformation for her protagonists. The two lead characters couldn’t seem further apart, yet their lives are meant to intersect, Sean will make certain of that. The story following the attack begins slow, ramping up the closer Sean and Jennifer get. Cozy describes environments in vivid detail. Readers will find themselves immersed in fast-paced Los Angeles, humid Florida, and among the pines in British Columbia.
Relationships are also at the core of the story. Jennifer’s support network changes many times, and readers will enjoy the many different characters with whom she interacts. Sean is much more of a lone wolf, but his undercover work puts him face to face with some really fun bad guys. A run-in with a former colleague provides one of the breathtaking highlights of the book.
“Ashes” is the first in a duo of books, to be followed by “Reckoning” in late 2013. Reading “Ashes” following the recent attacks at the Boston marathon provided an interesting experience. Cozy gets the opening chapter across without overdoing it. She paints a picture of the terrorist attack, and the ensuing news coverage, that is reminiscent of the attacks on September 11, 2001.
“Ashes” takes a little while to get going, but the payoff is very effective. When the two transforming protagonists finally meet, the stage is set for a tense interaction that will change their lives forever.
July 20, 2013
*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book on from the author in return for an honest review*
Author
Kelly Cozy became hooked on books in early infancy, when she turned one of her parents' paperbacks into a teething ring. She lives in California with her husband, son, and cats.
Her hobbies include cooking, reading, watching movies, and attending nerdy conventions.
Review
This book is a total surprise. I read the synopsis and was like "Ok, looks interesting enough lets give it a try" but reading the first chapter left me breathless and I was not able to find my breath back till I was at 75% of the book and it finally slowed down a bit.
Jennifer is a character you can easily relate too. Pushing the snooze button one to many times on the day her life changes forever. Her struggle after surviving the attack is heart wrenching and all I felt like doing was comforting her. Telling her it was not as she was thinking. You really hope she will be able to find herself again and get a grip on her life. I really love the developments and how she reacts to them.
Sean is lost too I guess. In a way it is beautiful what he wants to do. It is clear he is a good man... somewhere.
The situations in the book make you question a lot of things for yourself. Is Sean right in the way he seeks justice, would I be able to think like him if I went trough things like that. What would I decide in the end. Even though after the first chapters the real excitement is gone there are so many questions and emotions going around you cannot stop wondering about the developments. Only as said before around 75% the lives of both Sean and Jennifer seem to settle and it gives you some space to breath. But just a little space because soon things start to move again and you are left with questions... That was the one minus I could actually find in this book. It has an open end leaving me with a lot of unanswered questions.
Author
Kelly Cozy became hooked on books in early infancy, when she turned one of her parents' paperbacks into a teething ring. She lives in California with her husband, son, and cats.
Her hobbies include cooking, reading, watching movies, and attending nerdy conventions.
Review
This book is a total surprise. I read the synopsis and was like "Ok, looks interesting enough lets give it a try" but reading the first chapter left me breathless and I was not able to find my breath back till I was at 75% of the book and it finally slowed down a bit.
Jennifer is a character you can easily relate too. Pushing the snooze button one to many times on the day her life changes forever. Her struggle after surviving the attack is heart wrenching and all I felt like doing was comforting her. Telling her it was not as she was thinking. You really hope she will be able to find herself again and get a grip on her life. I really love the developments and how she reacts to them.
Sean is lost too I guess. In a way it is beautiful what he wants to do. It is clear he is a good man... somewhere.
The situations in the book make you question a lot of things for yourself. Is Sean right in the way he seeks justice, would I be able to think like him if I went trough things like that. What would I decide in the end. Even though after the first chapters the real excitement is gone there are so many questions and emotions going around you cannot stop wondering about the developments. Only as said before around 75% the lives of both Sean and Jennifer seem to settle and it gives you some space to breath. But just a little space because soon things start to move again and you are left with questions... That was the one minus I could actually find in this book. It has an open end leaving me with a lot of unanswered questions.
September 26, 2013
I thought I wouldn't be able to read this book because it would be too upsetting to read about subjects like the bombing of a federal building, that it would strike a painful nerve, that it would be too graphic. The author approached it and told the story in a way that did not horrify. I felt sad, yes, but it wasn't too traumatic. Jennifer's tale is of survival, and her struggle to figure out why she survived when others had not, why was she special? Her need for change – some place new and fresh – because she was no longer the person in the photographs being pulled away from that building, leads her to a new home – far away where she is not a "celebrity" and can find a measure of peace. But the past has a way of following you and she has demons left to exorcise.
Sean's story is of a hero put out to pasture, a man who sees Jennifer's rescue on television and wants to help bring those responsible for the horrible deed she survived and so many others didn't to justice. His superiors don't want or need his help, and so he sets out on his own to find and infiltrate the hate group responsible, with a plan to bring their leader to Jennifer so she may be the one to exact revenge. But will she want this gift he delivers to her door step?
Sean's side of the story has a bit more violence to it, and honestly I skipped over a little, but I am sensitive to that kind of thing. If you are not it probably won't bother you anymore than other plots that include a little torture to get information.
I found that the "bad guy" is likeable. Some one you would befriend in your small town, devoted to his wife and community. Even Sean likes him, which makes his task a little more difficult. Hard to believe he is responsible for such hate and destruction, which makes the story interesting.
I was given a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
Sean's story is of a hero put out to pasture, a man who sees Jennifer's rescue on television and wants to help bring those responsible for the horrible deed she survived and so many others didn't to justice. His superiors don't want or need his help, and so he sets out on his own to find and infiltrate the hate group responsible, with a plan to bring their leader to Jennifer so she may be the one to exact revenge. But will she want this gift he delivers to her door step?
Sean's side of the story has a bit more violence to it, and honestly I skipped over a little, but I am sensitive to that kind of thing. If you are not it probably won't bother you anymore than other plots that include a little torture to get information.
I found that the "bad guy" is likeable. Some one you would befriend in your small town, devoted to his wife and community. Even Sean likes him, which makes his task a little more difficult. Hard to believe he is responsible for such hate and destruction, which makes the story interesting.
I was given a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
June 11, 2013
This is a thought provoking book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Jennifer was the last person out of a Federal building that had been bombed. The picture of her crying in the arms of a fireman went all over the world. She was recognized wherever she went and she was besieged by the media. Of course, she had the usual survivor guilt also. Sean was a forcibly retired government assassin. As he watched the tv report of the terrorism and saw her picture, he was affected greatly. He decides he must find the perpetrator and help Jennifer by bringing this man to her.
As I watched the tv reports on the Boston bombings, I couldn't help but remember a thought from Sean
"What could be more truly American than to watch disaster from the comfort of an easy chair, the remote ready to skip from network to network, snacks just a few steps away in the kitchen? The audiences at the gladiatorial matches in Rome never had it half so good."
The confusion and fear caused by being in a collapsing building is very well written. And the feelings of nearly harassment by the media is something I hadn't thought of in relation to surviving a disaster.
Every reader will, I think, be wondering if they would take the guilty one to her and if the reader were her, would we do the same thing.
I am looking forward to the next book in this series and I recommend it highly.
I neglected to say that I received this book for free from Good Reads First Reads.
As I watched the tv reports on the Boston bombings, I couldn't help but remember a thought from Sean
"What could be more truly American than to watch disaster from the comfort of an easy chair, the remote ready to skip from network to network, snacks just a few steps away in the kitchen? The audiences at the gladiatorial matches in Rome never had it half so good."
The confusion and fear caused by being in a collapsing building is very well written. And the feelings of nearly harassment by the media is something I hadn't thought of in relation to surviving a disaster.
Every reader will, I think, be wondering if they would take the guilty one to her and if the reader were her, would we do the same thing.
I am looking forward to the next book in this series and I recommend it highly.
I neglected to say that I received this book for free from Good Reads First Reads.
September 23, 2013
Jennifer Thompson’s life was ordinary and the day her life was irrevocably altered she just wanted to get to work on time. She was the last person out of the federal building where she worked after the bomb exploded, unintentionally becoming an iconic image on every magazine, newspaper, and website. All Jennifer wanted to do is pick up the pieces of her life and live anonymously. When Sean Kincaid, a former black-ops agent, sees Jennifer he makes it his life’s mission to find the one(s) responsible and bring them to Jennifer so she can have closure. Both Sean and Jennifer’s best laid plans go as awry as possible and it brings them together in a most unexpected way. Ms. Cozy has a remarkable way with words and has made ‘Ashes’ a definite must-read novel. Without being graphic the author has captured all of the palpable emotion of a terrorist attack and its aftermath. There just aren’t words enough to describe the effect reading ‘Ashes’ had on me, but I recommend it most highly. With the wicked cliffhanger, I can’t wait to read the next book to see what happens!
Series: Ashes (1)
Series: Ashes (1)
August 14, 2013
Jennifer could never have imagined what was going to happen on a normal day when she was late for work. The unthinkable happens and she is left fighting for her life. She tries to rebuild her life but can't help the uneasy feeling of feeling guilty to be alive. She decides that enough is enough and relocates to Haven Cove. It takes a while and a few mistakes but she finally finds a job she enjoys and friends that are there for her. Whilst Jennifer is rebuilding her life Sean is trying to track down who brought this devastation to her door step. He thinks she will want to get revenge on them.
This book was brilliant! There are a lot of things going on in it and it is basically 2 stories that come together at the very end. Every chapter alternates between Jennifer and Sean. There is a lot of action in there and it always keeps you on your toes. If you like a fast paced book then this one is definitely for you. I was a tiny bit disappointed with the ending but only because i didn't want it to end there and needed to find out more. Another brilliant book by Kelly Cozy.
This book was brilliant! There are a lot of things going on in it and it is basically 2 stories that come together at the very end. Every chapter alternates between Jennifer and Sean. There is a lot of action in there and it always keeps you on your toes. If you like a fast paced book then this one is definitely for you. I was a tiny bit disappointed with the ending but only because i didn't want it to end there and needed to find out more. Another brilliant book by Kelly Cozy.
January 2, 2016
I would have liked a specific ending, so I'm very disappointed that the author chose not to provide one. Life, or death? Instead, we get a 50 / 50 chance at both. The trigger is pulled, and..........
I'm not giving it away. There is a bad guy involved responsible for a lot of death. The good guy manages to kill people also, including one accidentally, who happens to be the bad guys wife.
Really.
I almost put this book down a few times. I did put it down finally, then saw I had 5 pages until the end, so I finished it.
I should have stopped reading it the first time I thought about quitting it.
However, I did really like the beginning.
Go figure.
If you have something else to read, don't read this until you've finished your other books first.
I'm not giving it away. There is a bad guy involved responsible for a lot of death. The good guy manages to kill people also, including one accidentally, who happens to be the bad guys wife.
Really.
I almost put this book down a few times. I did put it down finally, then saw I had 5 pages until the end, so I finished it.
I should have stopped reading it the first time I thought about quitting it.
However, I did really like the beginning.
Go figure.
If you have something else to read, don't read this until you've finished your other books first.
May 27, 2013
due to the main premise for this book, I wasn't sure I would enjoy it. Boy was I wrong, it's a real page turner.
It's written from two perspectives, a young woman who was the last out of the building alive, and a middle aged man who was 'retired' from a black ops program. They don't know each other, but it's nice the way the story intertwines. it is very well written.
While the main premise is a tough one, the story itself is wonderful. Don't let the premise shy you away from checking out this book.
It's written from two perspectives, a young woman who was the last out of the building alive, and a middle aged man who was 'retired' from a black ops program. They don't know each other, but it's nice the way the story intertwines. it is very well written.
While the main premise is a tough one, the story itself is wonderful. Don't let the premise shy you away from checking out this book.
July 9, 2013
I could see the similarities to another worldwide crisis in this book. The two main characters were very different but connected due to this crisis. Jennifer was sweet and innocent while Sean was heartless and ruthless. This book was very good and I was anxious to find out what happened in the end. The ending left me wanting more and I can't wait to read the next book.
July 21, 2015
This book deserves more than five stars.
Saved the last chapter for the morning, closed my Kindle and thought about it for a long time. What will I do if I was Jennifer's shoes? This author writes about each character so vividly, you'll relate to them. Was he doing what he did for her or for himself? Must read book, going start reading Ashes #2.
Saved the last chapter for the morning, closed my Kindle and thought about it for a long time. What will I do if I was Jennifer's shoes? This author writes about each character so vividly, you'll relate to them. Was he doing what he did for her or for himself? Must read book, going start reading Ashes #2.
March 9, 2014
I'm really not sure how I feel after reading this book. So many unanswered questions and really didn't like the ending.
January 8, 2018
I obtained this free e-book from Amazon and I am voluntarily writing a review. I hate cliffhangers, especially when there is no forewarning. I view it as insecurity of the author in their talent by using cheap tricks to lure the reader to buy another book when it should be the skill of writing that lures the reader. Honestly I would have rated this as a 3 on Amazon and a 2 on Good Reads until I discover on the last page it was a cliffhanger which gets a rating of 1. This is about a woman Jennifer that survives a bombing of a federal building in Los Angles and the struggle to rebuild her life . Sean is a forced into retirement Black ops that is his own twisted sense of justice hunts down the brains behind the attack to deliver them to Jennifer so she can met out justice. I have the second book but will not bother to read it.
March 14, 2017
[free B&N ebook]
I read to the end and was absorbed, enough so that I would consider the second in the series. The strength is the bad guy militia and the similarity to the Timothy McVeigh attack on the federal building in Oklahoma City. The internal monologue (free indirect discourse) was lengthy but moved along. The government assassin was tolerable.
There were plot points which made no sense, which probably should have detracted more from the rating, but I let them pass.
I read to the end and was absorbed, enough so that I would consider the second in the series. The strength is the bad guy militia and the similarity to the Timothy McVeigh attack on the federal building in Oklahoma City. The internal monologue (free indirect discourse) was lengthy but moved along. The government assassin was tolerable.
There were plot points which made no sense, which probably should have detracted more from the rating, but I let them pass.
October 20, 2018
Unusual.Book
What a fantastic book the storyline kept you.reading with unable to put book down. Meeting Jennifer and Sean and all the people who were entitlement. A excellent story by this very talented author. Will continue reading all the books in series and follow this author
What a fantastic book the storyline kept you.reading with unable to put book down. Meeting Jennifer and Sean and all the people who were entitlement. A excellent story by this very talented author. Will continue reading all the books in series and follow this author
July 23, 2020
Crushed by survivor guilt after LA building bombed to ashes, Jen moves to BC fishing village. Retired US black-op Sean sees her photo, plans to bring her US group leader responsible, for payback. Bad accidents hurt both. Typo:
c18.13 will worked IS will have worked
c18.13 will worked IS will have worked
February 19, 2022
worth reading
engaging story and characters, mostly moves along quite quickly. I really don't like when a book ends without a real ending just so that you'll buy the next in series.
engaging story and characters, mostly moves along quite quickly. I really don't like when a book ends without a real ending just so that you'll buy the next in series.
July 23, 2017
Intriguing tale
Intriguing tale of learning how to start over and getting ready for new beginnings. Characters are realistic and believable for the storyline
Intriguing tale of learning how to start over and getting ready for new beginnings. Characters are realistic and believable for the storyline
September 1, 2017
she survives a terrorist attack, he wants to bring the perpretators to justice. Well written, just not my cuppa.
October 27, 2019
Ashes
This book started out with a horrendous bombing and shocked me. This story took account of the survivor's guilt with an unhealthy dose of notoriety.
This book started out with a horrendous bombing and shocked me. This story took account of the survivor's guilt with an unhealthy dose of notoriety.
February 5, 2017
This book was free on Amazon. It was interesting, but I won't be buying the sequel.
January 13, 2014
Smite Publications|Feb. 24, 2013|Trade Paperback|ISBN: 97800985123451
Jennifer Thomson worked as a receptionist in one of the Federal buildings in Los Angeles, California. She was single, happy, and enjoyed her life. One morning she was on her way to the photocopier when she ran into her friend, Cindy. They chatted for a few minutes and then made a date to meet for lunch at 11:30a.m. so they could beat the lunch crowd. Cindy then reminded Jennifer that the photocopier in their department still hadn't been repaired so she'd have to go over to the Human Resources department and use the one there. Jennifer began walking away when there was a sudden swaying and shaking of the building and then a loud explosion. Jennifer was thrown to the floor with ceiling tiles, lights, and other debris raining down on her. Suddenly it was deathly quiet and she finally opened her eyes to see a huge gaping hole in the side of the building right in front of her - 18 floors up!!! She saw a man falling past the window on the way to his death. Finally getting her sense about her, she got up and ran into Mr, Danvers who told her to get out quickly, and to use the stairs.
Jennifer ran for the stairwell and began her descent down meeting more and more people on the way. When "she survived the domestic terrorist attack, her last-minute escape became the iconic image of the event," she became front page news. Her photo was plastered everywhere!
Jennifer couldn't handle being noticed and hounded by the media, she only wanted to "disappear and become just another fact in the crowd." So, she "cashed in on her unwanted fame and moved to a small town" in Canada.
Sean Kincaid was a retired covert operative - a black ops living in Florida which I don't think he really liked all that much but it was somewhere to live.
The type of black ops that Sean was, is the kind that governments like to deny exist although we're all aware they are around and in operation. He was watching television the day the Federal building in Los Angeles came down. When he saw, Jennifer on the news something touched him deep inside and he decided he was going to help her. He was going to find those responsible for what they did and bring justice to, Jennifer "even if it meant turning rogue."
"What Jennifer and Sean will both find is that nothing goes to plan, and their paths will cross in a way neither could have foreseen."
ASHES was wonderfully written with a lot of mystery and suspense. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough! I can hardly wait to read the sequel titled: "Reckoning" which is out now. Great job, Ms, Cozy...I loved it!!!
Jennifer Thomson worked as a receptionist in one of the Federal buildings in Los Angeles, California. She was single, happy, and enjoyed her life. One morning she was on her way to the photocopier when she ran into her friend, Cindy. They chatted for a few minutes and then made a date to meet for lunch at 11:30a.m. so they could beat the lunch crowd. Cindy then reminded Jennifer that the photocopier in their department still hadn't been repaired so she'd have to go over to the Human Resources department and use the one there. Jennifer began walking away when there was a sudden swaying and shaking of the building and then a loud explosion. Jennifer was thrown to the floor with ceiling tiles, lights, and other debris raining down on her. Suddenly it was deathly quiet and she finally opened her eyes to see a huge gaping hole in the side of the building right in front of her - 18 floors up!!! She saw a man falling past the window on the way to his death. Finally getting her sense about her, she got up and ran into Mr, Danvers who told her to get out quickly, and to use the stairs.
Jennifer ran for the stairwell and began her descent down meeting more and more people on the way. When "she survived the domestic terrorist attack, her last-minute escape became the iconic image of the event," she became front page news. Her photo was plastered everywhere!
Jennifer couldn't handle being noticed and hounded by the media, she only wanted to "disappear and become just another fact in the crowd." So, she "cashed in on her unwanted fame and moved to a small town" in Canada.
Sean Kincaid was a retired covert operative - a black ops living in Florida which I don't think he really liked all that much but it was somewhere to live.
The type of black ops that Sean was, is the kind that governments like to deny exist although we're all aware they are around and in operation. He was watching television the day the Federal building in Los Angeles came down. When he saw, Jennifer on the news something touched him deep inside and he decided he was going to help her. He was going to find those responsible for what they did and bring justice to, Jennifer "even if it meant turning rogue."
"What Jennifer and Sean will both find is that nothing goes to plan, and their paths will cross in a way neither could have foreseen."
ASHES was wonderfully written with a lot of mystery and suspense. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough! I can hardly wait to read the sequel titled: "Reckoning" which is out now. Great job, Ms, Cozy...I loved it!!!
February 14, 2014
Ashes by Kelly Cozy
Jennifer Thomson is an ordinary person who works as a receptionist in a department of a USA federal office tower. Terrorists, from the Middle East the media says, blast the building to smithereens and everyone in Jennifer's department dies except for her, and she is the last person to make it out of the building alive. Struggling with survivor's guilt, Jennifer cannot get her life back together. She decides not only to leave Los Angeles, but to leave the USA. She moves to Safe Haven, BC in Canada.
Meanwhile a rogue government assasin who was forcibly retired but refuses to do be shut down, has seen her photo in the newspaper, and Jennifer becomes his icon of the terrible wrong done to innocent people. Sean makes a decision to find the person responsible for the explosion, take him or her to Jennifer and give her the privilege of shooting the person todeath. He feels quite sure that this kind of revenge will bring the kind of closure she will need in order to go on with her life.
We follow these two parallel stories, wondering what will happen when Sean succeeds in his commitment to “help” Jennifer. We're pretty sure he will, because he was and is a very good assasin.
The author develops both stories well. The characters are convincing and the plot laced with the tension of Jennifer's venture into a new life, and Sean's desire to continue the work for the country he has given his entire life to. As the two paths come closer and closer, the suspense climbs.
This novel is well worth reading as long as the reader understands that it evokes a lot of memories of 911. In this sense, it is also a helpful book because it provides a story of what happens to the survivors after such a disastrous tragedy, how different people cope, and enables us to struggle with the question of whether recovery and new life are possible. The book is deadly serious in its characters and its theme. There is little humour to give us the relief from the grim aftermath of disaster. Nevertheless, the story carries us because the author creates characters we can care about -- both Sean, Jennifer, and other characters. Cozy has written well and is well worth reading.
Jennifer Thomson is an ordinary person who works as a receptionist in a department of a USA federal office tower. Terrorists, from the Middle East the media says, blast the building to smithereens and everyone in Jennifer's department dies except for her, and she is the last person to make it out of the building alive. Struggling with survivor's guilt, Jennifer cannot get her life back together. She decides not only to leave Los Angeles, but to leave the USA. She moves to Safe Haven, BC in Canada.
Meanwhile a rogue government assasin who was forcibly retired but refuses to do be shut down, has seen her photo in the newspaper, and Jennifer becomes his icon of the terrible wrong done to innocent people. Sean makes a decision to find the person responsible for the explosion, take him or her to Jennifer and give her the privilege of shooting the person todeath. He feels quite sure that this kind of revenge will bring the kind of closure she will need in order to go on with her life.
We follow these two parallel stories, wondering what will happen when Sean succeeds in his commitment to “help” Jennifer. We're pretty sure he will, because he was and is a very good assasin.
The author develops both stories well. The characters are convincing and the plot laced with the tension of Jennifer's venture into a new life, and Sean's desire to continue the work for the country he has given his entire life to. As the two paths come closer and closer, the suspense climbs.
This novel is well worth reading as long as the reader understands that it evokes a lot of memories of 911. In this sense, it is also a helpful book because it provides a story of what happens to the survivors after such a disastrous tragedy, how different people cope, and enables us to struggle with the question of whether recovery and new life are possible. The book is deadly serious in its characters and its theme. There is little humour to give us the relief from the grim aftermath of disaster. Nevertheless, the story carries us because the author creates characters we can care about -- both Sean, Jennifer, and other characters. Cozy has written well and is well worth reading.
February 8, 2014
Ashes is a very intriguing contemporary suspense story. I love romance books and HEA and If you are looking for romance this doesn't have any, which is ok it still a very interesting read. This took me awhile to read because it is completely different from what I am use to reading.
Here is a quote from the book "a falls away is always. And is near. I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow. I learn by going where I have to go.’”
This is what a doctor told Jennifer at a support group, and it is full of meaning that Jennifer takes to heart.
We have Jennifer's side of the story which is honest, moving, and about finding the strength to get back up again following one of life's most vicious blows. Then we have Sean's side, a middle aged man who was 'retired' from a black ops program. Who enters back in to an intricate web of espionage, infiltration, and revenge.
Sean's side of the story has a bit more violence to it. I found that Richard the "bad guy" is like-able. Some one you would be friends with him in your small town, completely devoted to his wife and community. Even Sean likes him, which makes his task a little more difficult. Hard to believe he is responsible for such hate and destruction, which makes the story so interesting.
The way this novel switches back and forth between Jennifer's life after everything changes and Sean doing what guys who were hardcore black op types do to find our evildoers is highly effective.
And there is a major cliffhanger that is unbelievable.
Here is a snip " she place the gun against the back of his head. She pull the trigger.
And let God sort it out. The end I thought " what the...." Boy doesn't that leaving you wanting more.
I received a free copy for my honest review.
Here is a quote from the book "a falls away is always. And is near. I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow. I learn by going where I have to go.’”
This is what a doctor told Jennifer at a support group, and it is full of meaning that Jennifer takes to heart.
We have Jennifer's side of the story which is honest, moving, and about finding the strength to get back up again following one of life's most vicious blows. Then we have Sean's side, a middle aged man who was 'retired' from a black ops program. Who enters back in to an intricate web of espionage, infiltration, and revenge.
Sean's side of the story has a bit more violence to it. I found that Richard the "bad guy" is like-able. Some one you would be friends with him in your small town, completely devoted to his wife and community. Even Sean likes him, which makes his task a little more difficult. Hard to believe he is responsible for such hate and destruction, which makes the story so interesting.
The way this novel switches back and forth between Jennifer's life after everything changes and Sean doing what guys who were hardcore black op types do to find our evildoers is highly effective.
And there is a major cliffhanger that is unbelievable.
Here is a snip " she place the gun against the back of his head. She pull the trigger.
And let God sort it out. The end I thought " what the...." Boy doesn't that leaving you wanting more.
I received a free copy for my honest review.
January 2, 2015
**I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.**
Ashes is one of those books that grabs you by the collar and doesn't let go. I got swept up in the story so quickly that I had to remind myself to breathe!
Kelly Cozy does a great job getting the reader involved with the characters. I felt for both Jennifer & Sean as well as some of the others in the novel.
Jennifer has to face so much after her harrowing near-death experience - facing the fact that she was the lone survivor from her department at work after "the attack", the families of her friends, the media hounding her relentlessly, etc. Jennifer decided to leave her familiar surroundings and head to somewhere that people were less likely to know her so she could try to start anew.
Sean has been through a lot in his life and has recently been forced into early retirement - something he's not overly thrilled about. Watching the attack unfold on TV, Sean feels something he thought he lost years ago. He promises to find the person responsible and bring him to Jennifer for her own revenge - completely unknown by Jennifer. (I started to think this would become a bit stalker-ish, but am happy to say it doesn't.)
Ashes is told from both Jennifer & Seans point-of-view and they blend very well together. And that ending.... WOW!!
If you are looking for a thriller with a hint of romance, look no further than Ashes by Kelly Cozy - you won't be disappointed!
Ashes is one of those books that grabs you by the collar and doesn't let go. I got swept up in the story so quickly that I had to remind myself to breathe!
Kelly Cozy does a great job getting the reader involved with the characters. I felt for both Jennifer & Sean as well as some of the others in the novel.
Jennifer has to face so much after her harrowing near-death experience - facing the fact that she was the lone survivor from her department at work after "the attack", the families of her friends, the media hounding her relentlessly, etc. Jennifer decided to leave her familiar surroundings and head to somewhere that people were less likely to know her so she could try to start anew.
Sean has been through a lot in his life and has recently been forced into early retirement - something he's not overly thrilled about. Watching the attack unfold on TV, Sean feels something he thought he lost years ago. He promises to find the person responsible and bring him to Jennifer for her own revenge - completely unknown by Jennifer. (I started to think this would become a bit stalker-ish, but am happy to say it doesn't.)
Ashes is told from both Jennifer & Seans point-of-view and they blend very well together. And that ending.... WOW!!
If you are looking for a thriller with a hint of romance, look no further than Ashes by Kelly Cozy - you won't be disappointed!
September 17, 2013
Jennifer Thomson was having a fairly normal day until the bomb went off. She survived the terrorist attack by the skin of her teeth, but a photo of her being rescued from the rubble became the single most iconic image of the event. And that was when the trouble really started.
Meanwhile Sean Kincade, a former covert operative, watched the whole attack and Jennifer’s rescue on TV. Sick to death of his unwanted retirement in suburbia anyway, he decided to take matters into his own, highly skilled hands.
This story is tight, sophisticated, and riveting. The story follows the protagonists in two separate timelines, which only makes the two feel all the more closely connected throughout the book. Kelly Cozy is not the type to pull punches. Reading this book is like watching 24: you’ll need a pillow to hide behind, but you won’t take your eyes off the screen for an instant. And if you’re anything like me, you’ll be hooked by the first bomb blast. Even if this type of book isn’t your normal fare, I highly recommend it as a thrilling, thought-provoking, and deeply emotional page-turner.
Meanwhile Sean Kincade, a former covert operative, watched the whole attack and Jennifer’s rescue on TV. Sick to death of his unwanted retirement in suburbia anyway, he decided to take matters into his own, highly skilled hands.
This story is tight, sophisticated, and riveting. The story follows the protagonists in two separate timelines, which only makes the two feel all the more closely connected throughout the book. Kelly Cozy is not the type to pull punches. Reading this book is like watching 24: you’ll need a pillow to hide behind, but you won’t take your eyes off the screen for an instant. And if you’re anything like me, you’ll be hooked by the first bomb blast. Even if this type of book isn’t your normal fare, I highly recommend it as a thrilling, thought-provoking, and deeply emotional page-turner.
November 5, 2014
Given To Me For An Honest Review
Ashes by Kelly Cozy is a book that will take you to a place you never thought of going to. Just be sure to be sitting down as you read and decided when you will stop reading but find your self turning and turning pages and turning more pages until you finish the book. Jennifer works in a department of the USA Federal Office Tower. Terrorists bomb the building and Jennifer is the only survivor. Suffering survivors guilt she moves out of Los Angeles to Canada to start over. The story and Jennifer's picture are in the newspaper and is seen by a former black ops operative (Sean). He was made to retire but he has not quit. He makes the decision to find out who committed this crime. Jennifer and Sean have never met. As their paths get closer and closer the suspense increases. When you get to the end you are going to find *****CLIFFHANGER***** but never fear I am sure a sequel is in the works. I am waiting for it. If you are expecting romance and sex then this book isn't for you. I gave this book 5 stars but it clearly deserves many more. I highly recommend this book to everyone. I look for more from Kelly Cozy.
Ashes by Kelly Cozy is a book that will take you to a place you never thought of going to. Just be sure to be sitting down as you read and decided when you will stop reading but find your self turning and turning pages and turning more pages until you finish the book. Jennifer works in a department of the USA Federal Office Tower. Terrorists bomb the building and Jennifer is the only survivor. Suffering survivors guilt she moves out of Los Angeles to Canada to start over. The story and Jennifer's picture are in the newspaper and is seen by a former black ops operative (Sean). He was made to retire but he has not quit. He makes the decision to find out who committed this crime. Jennifer and Sean have never met. As their paths get closer and closer the suspense increases. When you get to the end you are going to find *****CLIFFHANGER***** but never fear I am sure a sequel is in the works. I am waiting for it. If you are expecting romance and sex then this book isn't for you. I gave this book 5 stars but it clearly deserves many more. I highly recommend this book to everyone. I look for more from Kelly Cozy.
February 2, 2016
A steady paced thriller with well developed characters and vivid locations. When Jennifer's life is almost destroyed in a terrorists bombing that killed 361 of her co-workers, she reaches deep into her being to find the strength to carry on and build a new life for herself. Just when she thinks she has pulled herself through the worst and created a new Jennifer out of the ruins of the old, she is faced with an all new dilemma brought to her by a man that sacrificed everything for her and she doesn't even know him. Now she has to decide if she needs revenge to put the past behind her and find peace in her dreams or if her budding new love with a man and his son in her new life is enough. This story will raise questions in your own mind if you've ever been dealt an injustice, but for the answers you'll have to read book 2 in the series because unfortunately, this story doesn't end in book 1.
February 19, 2016
Survival guilt, starting over, finding a way and righting a wrong
An interesting book written with side by side accounts of a woman trying to find her way forward out of a traumatic experience and the guilt she carried for having survived, and a man lost without a future trying to find redemption with a vigilante brand of righting a wrong. The woman's character was better developed than the man's but both presented a good view of the character in their struggle to achieve their goal and make their world right again. Enjoyable reading and interesting ending that left you wondering.
An interesting book written with side by side accounts of a woman trying to find her way forward out of a traumatic experience and the guilt she carried for having survived, and a man lost without a future trying to find redemption with a vigilante brand of righting a wrong. The woman's character was better developed than the man's but both presented a good view of the character in their struggle to achieve their goal and make their world right again. Enjoyable reading and interesting ending that left you wondering.
August 12, 2016
WOW - this book was such a surprise. I did not expect the page turner that it turned out to be. Both Jennifer and Sean's journey was explosive, heartbreaking and thought provoking. Jennifer was trying to get her life back and I rooted for her all the way. I started out all in with Sean, but began to feel afraid for him with each action he took to seek justice for Jennifer. I knew the book ended with a bit of a cliff-hanger and thought it was brilliant. As a reader you can choose to wonder or read on.
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