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Burn for Me #4
Within the Ashes
Dean
A truth for a truth?
Becoming a father was never part of the plan, but then a one-night stand shows up with a three-month-old baby girl and completely upturns my life.
Now I’m a single dad and I have no idea what I am doing.
I need help, so when a friend suggests hiring a nanny, I jump at it.
And then she walked through my door.
Sloane and I have never really seen eye to eye, but there’s no denying how good she is with my daughter.
Now we spend every day together, and I’m starting to realize that the hard-shelled woman is harboring secrets and I want them.
But more than that... I want her.
When a threat is made against her, she has no choice but to move in with me and the more time we spend together, the harder it is to deny how much she’s crawled under my skin.
But with all these secrets between us, the foundations are crumbling and once everything is done falling, what will be left of us within the ashes?
Sloane
But only these secrets can keep me safe.
For months I have lived a lie, pretended to be someone I am not and for months it has kept me safe, but I’m running out of money, and I desperately need a job.
Even if the job comes from a man I really want to avoid.
He sees things I want to hide, makes me feel things that threaten the sanctuary I have created for myself.
When everything comes crashing down around us, I have no choice but to turn to him, and the longer we spend together, the harder it becomes to hide who I really am.
Are my secrets safe with him?
Or will the past come back to find me?
Within the Ashes is a single dad dark romance and the fourth and final book in the Burn for Me series, a set of interconnected standalones that do not need to be read in order.
This book contains dark themes and is intended for mature audiences. A list of content warnings is provided at the start of the book and on the authors website.
A truth for a truth?
Becoming a father was never part of the plan, but then a one-night stand shows up with a three-month-old baby girl and completely upturns my life.
Now I’m a single dad and I have no idea what I am doing.
I need help, so when a friend suggests hiring a nanny, I jump at it.
And then she walked through my door.
Sloane and I have never really seen eye to eye, but there’s no denying how good she is with my daughter.
Now we spend every day together, and I’m starting to realize that the hard-shelled woman is harboring secrets and I want them.
But more than that... I want her.
When a threat is made against her, she has no choice but to move in with me and the more time we spend together, the harder it is to deny how much she’s crawled under my skin.
But with all these secrets between us, the foundations are crumbling and once everything is done falling, what will be left of us within the ashes?
Sloane
But only these secrets can keep me safe.
For months I have lived a lie, pretended to be someone I am not and for months it has kept me safe, but I’m running out of money, and I desperately need a job.
Even if the job comes from a man I really want to avoid.
He sees things I want to hide, makes me feel things that threaten the sanctuary I have created for myself.
When everything comes crashing down around us, I have no choice but to turn to him, and the longer we spend together, the harder it becomes to hide who I really am.
Are my secrets safe with him?
Or will the past come back to find me?
Within the Ashes is a single dad dark romance and the fourth and final book in the Burn for Me series, a set of interconnected standalones that do not need to be read in order.
This book contains dark themes and is intended for mature audiences. A list of content warnings is provided at the start of the book and on the authors website.
312 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 19, 2025
70 people are currently reading
571 people want to read
About the author
Ria Wilde
19 books1,139 followersStories that are dirty, dangerous & deliciously sinful.
Ria Wilde is an international bestselling author of Dark, Steamy & Suspenseful Romance. She currently resides in the UK where getting lost in her books, and plotting the next best way to break some hearts is a daily occurrence.
A lover of all things steamy and sinful, she also has a big soft spot for small town romances & cowboys, but morally gray will forever be her favorite color!
HEA's & Spice, but there's no promise it'll be an easy ride, and be prepared to fall in love with her morally gray men and the sassy queens that steal their hearts.
Instagram: @authorriawilde
Facebook: @riawilderauthor
Tiktok: @.authorriawilde
Ria Wilde is an international bestselling author of Dark, Steamy & Suspenseful Romance. She currently resides in the UK where getting lost in her books, and plotting the next best way to break some hearts is a daily occurrence.
A lover of all things steamy and sinful, she also has a big soft spot for small town romances & cowboys, but morally gray will forever be her favorite color!
HEA's & Spice, but there's no promise it'll be an easy ride, and be prepared to fall in love with her morally gray men and the sassy queens that steal their hearts.
Instagram: @authorriawilde
Facebook: @riawilderauthor
Tiktok: @.authorriawilde
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
June 2, 2025
★★★★★. Thank you so much to the author Ria and Luna Literary for this ARC!! Once again, an easy 5 stars. This had angst, slow burn, single dad, sorta enemies to lovers, OBSESSED mmc, heroine on the run plus the mmc so attentive to the fmc you’d cry.
Dean, ugh my man’s brother. One of the most attentive men ever. A man who didn’t want to be a dad due to his family trauma yet became the best father ever. The second he locked eyes with his “Lily Flower”, he knew that this was his daughter that he’d protect forever. He didn’t know how to be dad and it was so endearing watching him grow into one and form a bond with his Lily Flower. NOW FOR HIS OBSESSION WITH SLOANE. This man was down right horrendously bad for this woman. He read her like a book and made sure she was always okay first before ANYTHING. A certain chapter emphasizes this BIG time. He fell hard and fast yet it was slow for Sloane so she could feel safe with him.
Sloane, my girls best friend. I loved her ever since killiansavannah’s book. She had secrets and was running from something. Her fear of men in particular was so sad because she panicked very briefly about being left with Dean alone. Reading her find her strength in herself again was amazing. Her bond with Lily was phenomenal. She always was there for Lily and made sure she knew she was loved. Her relationship with Savannah was everything, but I can’t help but wish Savannah was more in tuned you could say with Sloane and how her “I’m okay’s” weren’t the truth.
The over arching plot came to a finale and it was done so well. The plot for Sloane was done well and the plot twist was working. The final epilogue was beautiful and I loved seeing all the couples with their families. I can’t wait to see what Ria has next, I’m praying it continues with the River franchise!
“Let me have you,” I rasp against her skin, “Let me keep you.”“Dean,” She moans when my mouth reaches her clavicle, my teeth grazing.
“Come on, Butterfly,” ”
Dean, ugh my man’s brother. One of the most attentive men ever. A man who didn’t want to be a dad due to his family trauma yet became the best father ever. The second he locked eyes with his “Lily Flower”, he knew that this was his daughter that he’d protect forever. He didn’t know how to be dad and it was so endearing watching him grow into one and form a bond with his Lily Flower. NOW FOR HIS OBSESSION WITH SLOANE. This man was down right horrendously bad for this woman. He read her like a book and made sure she was always okay first before ANYTHING. A certain chapter emphasizes this BIG time. He fell hard and fast yet it was slow for Sloane so she could feel safe with him.
Sloane, my girls best friend. I loved her ever since killiansavannah’s book. She had secrets and was running from something. Her fear of men in particular was so sad because she panicked very briefly about being left with Dean alone. Reading her find her strength in herself again was amazing. Her bond with Lily was phenomenal. She always was there for Lily and made sure she knew she was loved. Her relationship with Savannah was everything, but I can’t help but wish Savannah was more in tuned you could say with Sloane and how her “I’m okay’s” weren’t the truth.
The over arching plot came to a finale and it was done so well. The plot for Sloane was done well and the plot twist was working. The final epilogue was beautiful and I loved seeing all the couples with their families. I can’t wait to see what Ria has next, I’m praying it continues with the River franchise!
“Let me have you,” I rasp against her skin, “Let me keep you.”“Dean,” She moans when my mouth reaches her clavicle, my teeth grazing.
“Come on, Butterfly,” ”
June 18, 2025
✍️ 𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝑹𝑬𝑽𝑰𝑬𝑾 ✍️
“WITHIN THE ASHES” RIA WILDE ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶️🌶️.5/5
Are we really at the end of this series?
Becoming a father was never part of Dean’s plan, but everything changes when a baby in a basket shows up at his door. Overnight, Dean finds himself a single dad with no idea what he's doing. He decides to hire a nanny, and to his surprise, it’s Sloane—the one woman he’s never gotten along with.
Despite their differences, Dean can’t deny that Sloane is amazing with his daughter. As they spend more time together, the attraction between them grows stronger and harder to ignore. But Sloane has been living under a false identity to protect herself from a dangerous past.
When a threat puts her in danger, she’s forced to move in with Dean, making things even more complicated. Her secrets are close to being exposed, and Dean wants answers. But trust doesn’t come easy, and when everything falls apart, they’ll have to ask themselves if there’s still something worth saving between them.
Dean was the last person I expected to become a father. He was the classic playboy—one night stands, never the same woman twice. And yet, every time I read about a character like him, I can’t wait to see who will be the woman who will bring him to his knees and make him rethink his life. In this case, there were two: a three month old baby girl, and a woman running from a past that’s been haunting her for months, a past that forced her to flee, change her name, and constantly look over her shoulder, trusting no one.
This book is a sweet slow burn, and I’m glad it was. Sloane needed time—to trust, to see Dean for who he really is.
The last two books in the series shifted away from the dark tone and the organization we saw in the first two. There are still dark themes, but if you’re used to dark romance, you’ll barely notice them here.
I really appreciated how the baby was a true part of the story. That’s never a given—too often, kids are just thrown in for plot purposes and then forgotten.
I gave it four stars instead of four and a half just to keep it a step below Playing with Fire and my all-time favorites, Olivia and Malakai. They will never compare to others.
“WITHIN THE ASHES” RIA WILDE ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶️🌶️.5/5
Are we really at the end of this series?
Becoming a father was never part of Dean’s plan, but everything changes when a baby in a basket shows up at his door. Overnight, Dean finds himself a single dad with no idea what he's doing. He decides to hire a nanny, and to his surprise, it’s Sloane—the one woman he’s never gotten along with.
Despite their differences, Dean can’t deny that Sloane is amazing with his daughter. As they spend more time together, the attraction between them grows stronger and harder to ignore. But Sloane has been living under a false identity to protect herself from a dangerous past.
When a threat puts her in danger, she’s forced to move in with Dean, making things even more complicated. Her secrets are close to being exposed, and Dean wants answers. But trust doesn’t come easy, and when everything falls apart, they’ll have to ask themselves if there’s still something worth saving between them.
Dean was the last person I expected to become a father. He was the classic playboy—one night stands, never the same woman twice. And yet, every time I read about a character like him, I can’t wait to see who will be the woman who will bring him to his knees and make him rethink his life. In this case, there were two: a three month old baby girl, and a woman running from a past that’s been haunting her for months, a past that forced her to flee, change her name, and constantly look over her shoulder, trusting no one.
This book is a sweet slow burn, and I’m glad it was. Sloane needed time—to trust, to see Dean for who he really is.
The last two books in the series shifted away from the dark tone and the organization we saw in the first two. There are still dark themes, but if you’re used to dark romance, you’ll barely notice them here.
I really appreciated how the baby was a true part of the story. That’s never a given—too often, kids are just thrown in for plot purposes and then forgotten.
I gave it four stars instead of four and a half just to keep it a step below Playing with Fire and my all-time favorites, Olivia and Malakai. They will never compare to others.
June 30, 2025
Within the Ashes is the fourth title in the Burn For Me series written by Ria Wilde.
What to expect:
*Single dad x Nanny
*Pierced MMC
*Found family
The final book in the Burn For Me series is a tear jerker!
Sloan is in hiding from a man that severely abused her and was never caught. Dean has found out he is a father and in need of someone to help care for his daughter. Together, these two characters find true love and healing!
No OW drama, OM drama in the form of a stalker. No third act breakup!
Format: KU ebook
Genre: Contemporary fiction, Romance
Overall score:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level:🌶️🌶️🌶️
Characters: Sloan (FMC) & Dean (MMC)
What to expect:
*Single dad x Nanny
*Pierced MMC
*Found family
The final book in the Burn For Me series is a tear jerker!
Sloan is in hiding from a man that severely abused her and was never caught. Dean has found out he is a father and in need of someone to help care for his daughter. Together, these two characters find true love and healing!
No OW drama, OM drama in the form of a stalker. No third act breakup!
Format: KU ebook
Genre: Contemporary fiction, Romance
Overall score:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level:🌶️🌶️🌶️
Characters: Sloan (FMC) & Dean (MMC)
June 26, 2025
#Review: *Within The Ashes* - Ria Wilde - ARC [18+]
4.9/5✨
3/5🌶️
I just love the way Ria writes her stories and I needed to dive into her new book! Thank you so much Ria for accepting me to receive this e-ARC!🤗
A one-night stand transforms Dean Archer into a dad, who wakes up with a newborn at his door. The mother is nowhere to be found, so Dean is constrained to handle things on his own. But everything overwhelmes him, so he jumps to the idea of having someone to help him.
Sloane is good friends with Savannah, who was together one of the guys from the secret circle Dean was also part of. Savannah knew how good Sloane was with kids, so she considered her the perfect person to help Dean. But Sloane had some secret reasons to stay away from him, because of her complicated past experiences and because she didn't trust her feelings for him. The lack of money convinced her that the best thing to do was to accept his offer and try to be careful to not get attached. But what happens when that close proximity is starting to affect them? What happens when her past is starting to lurk around?
This story had just a bit of everything! I looved the constant tension between Dean and Sloane, those cute moments with Dean's daughter, Lily and those suspenseful parts of this book. Sloane was still so much affected by her past trauma and she hated that Dean just saw through her soul. Even though Dean was part of a really dangerous circle, he was that type of a man who would do anything to protect his loved ones. I just adored when he was in the protective mode, claiming Sloane even before she was his🤭. That was one of my favorite parts of this book, how sure Dean was about his statement.
A dark, suspenseful romance story, which has kept me glued to this book, being captivated by the character's dynamics and by all the plot twists of this story, some which totally surprised me. I definitely recommend anything written by the author!!
✨Tropes
#SingleDad
#Nanny
#MorallyGreyMMC
#FMCWithSecrets
#ForcedProximity
#WhoDidThisToYou
#OnTheRun
#HeroineInDanger
4.9/5✨
3/5🌶️
I just love the way Ria writes her stories and I needed to dive into her new book! Thank you so much Ria for accepting me to receive this e-ARC!🤗
A one-night stand transforms Dean Archer into a dad, who wakes up with a newborn at his door. The mother is nowhere to be found, so Dean is constrained to handle things on his own. But everything overwhelmes him, so he jumps to the idea of having someone to help him.
Sloane is good friends with Savannah, who was together one of the guys from the secret circle Dean was also part of. Savannah knew how good Sloane was with kids, so she considered her the perfect person to help Dean. But Sloane had some secret reasons to stay away from him, because of her complicated past experiences and because she didn't trust her feelings for him. The lack of money convinced her that the best thing to do was to accept his offer and try to be careful to not get attached. But what happens when that close proximity is starting to affect them? What happens when her past is starting to lurk around?
This story had just a bit of everything! I looved the constant tension between Dean and Sloane, those cute moments with Dean's daughter, Lily and those suspenseful parts of this book. Sloane was still so much affected by her past trauma and she hated that Dean just saw through her soul. Even though Dean was part of a really dangerous circle, he was that type of a man who would do anything to protect his loved ones. I just adored when he was in the protective mode, claiming Sloane even before she was his🤭. That was one of my favorite parts of this book, how sure Dean was about his statement.
A dark, suspenseful romance story, which has kept me glued to this book, being captivated by the character's dynamics and by all the plot twists of this story, some which totally surprised me. I definitely recommend anything written by the author!!
✨Tropes
#SingleDad
#Nanny
#MorallyGreyMMC
#FMCWithSecrets
#ForcedProximity
#WhoDidThisToYou
#OnTheRun
#HeroineInDanger
July 6, 2025
Ria Wilde has me devouring this book. I became so attached to this book, I just couldn’t put it down, definitely became a page turner for me where I kept wanting to stay up late seeing what would happen next.
Quote i giggled to: “I could only dream of having glutes I could bounce a penny off”
Sloan and dean both have a story that the other doesn’t know about. When the professional lines begin to get blurred the heat factor and protector is undeniable. This book had me in a chokehold. The emotional growth, the spice, plot twists, and every time dean calls Sloan butterfly 🦋
I’m officially a Ria Wilde fan, planning to go back and read all her books. Wonder what else she has up her sleeve. If you haven’t already, give Ria Wilde a try!!
Quote i giggled to: “I could only dream of having glutes I could bounce a penny off”
Sloan and dean both have a story that the other doesn’t know about. When the professional lines begin to get blurred the heat factor and protector is undeniable. This book had me in a chokehold. The emotional growth, the spice, plot twists, and every time dean calls Sloan butterfly 🦋
I’m officially a Ria Wilde fan, planning to go back and read all her books. Wonder what else she has up her sleeve. If you haven’t already, give Ria Wilde a try!!
June 12, 2025
Wow, she did it again, what an amazing book!
Honestly, this woman can write anything, and I will read it and rate it 5 stars. Her writing is so addictive.
I anxiously awaited Dean's story and it was better than I expected.
Dean surprised me, he is the perfect man, The way he was gentle, patient, and protective made me swoon so many times. He was the perfect boyfriend and dad.
Sloane is the sweetest, strongest, and amazing FMC. The way she left everything behind trying to escape her past was heartbreaking. Her healing was well executed, natural, and beautiful. She stole my heart.
Dean & Sloane's story was beautiful, gentle and steamy! I was completely hooked from the start, I just couldn't put this book down!
This might be my favorite book from this series, I am obsessed! 😍😍
Honestly, this woman can write anything, and I will read it and rate it 5 stars. Her writing is so addictive.
I anxiously awaited Dean's story and it was better than I expected.
Dean surprised me, he is the perfect man, The way he was gentle, patient, and protective made me swoon so many times. He was the perfect boyfriend and dad.
Sloane is the sweetest, strongest, and amazing FMC. The way she left everything behind trying to escape her past was heartbreaking. Her healing was well executed, natural, and beautiful. She stole my heart.
Dean & Sloane's story was beautiful, gentle and steamy! I was completely hooked from the start, I just couldn't put this book down!
This might be my favorite book from this series, I am obsessed! 😍😍
August 12, 2025
4.5 stars
2 spice
I have loveeeed this series! Read books 2-4 in a week & genuinely enjoyed them all! I love how Ria takes normal romance tropes & puts a mafia spin on them- it’s a different take and worked well in this series. Seeing Dean coming into his own as a dad was so sweet, I do wish we got a little more of him & Lily moments though. The trust & relationship that built between him and Sloane was great and well done. Def recommend this mafia series!!
2 spice
I have loveeeed this series! Read books 2-4 in a week & genuinely enjoyed them all! I love how Ria takes normal romance tropes & puts a mafia spin on them- it’s a different take and worked well in this series. Seeing Dean coming into his own as a dad was so sweet, I do wish we got a little more of him & Lily moments though. The trust & relationship that built between him and Sloane was great and well done. Def recommend this mafia series!!
June 16, 2025
Ria only writes bangers. IM CONVINCED 😮💨🫶🏼
Dean and Sloane’s story was absolutely amazing. I was in it from the first page and was sad every time I had to stop reading!! The angst, the tension, the spice, the suspense, the found family. It was everything 😩 I love this group of people so so much!
Dean and Sloane’s story was absolutely amazing. I was in it from the first page and was sad every time I had to stop reading!! The angst, the tension, the spice, the suspense, the found family. It was everything 😩 I love this group of people so so much!
June 19, 2025
First off, I LOVEEE a single dad/ nanny romance. Even better? When it’s a surprise baby, and he is a dangerous man. There is always something about a b@d@ss hero that has a soft side for his little one!
It is nearly impossible not to fall hopelessly in love with Dean!
And Sloane… soooo happy to finally get her story after meeting her throughout this series! This woman has been through so much, and Dean is exactly who she needs in her corner as she heals. The love this woman has for Dean’s baby girl is soul-warming! Their journey of healing, coming together, and creating something so special truly had my heart.
This author does an amazing job of taking you so deeply into this world; it makes the connection with the characters on the page and the plot that much more rewarding!
Another 5-star read that leaves me breathless and captivated!
Highly recommend this entire series!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It is nearly impossible not to fall hopelessly in love with Dean!
And Sloane… soooo happy to finally get her story after meeting her throughout this series! This woman has been through so much, and Dean is exactly who she needs in her corner as she heals. The love this woman has for Dean’s baby girl is soul-warming! Their journey of healing, coming together, and creating something so special truly had my heart.
This author does an amazing job of taking you so deeply into this world; it makes the connection with the characters on the page and the plot that much more rewarding!
Another 5-star read that leaves me breathless and captivated!
Highly recommend this entire series!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
June 19, 2025
Idk where Ria gets the audacity to make me FEEL so deeply but I’m here for it-and she does it flawlessly! She has quickly become an auto buy/read author!! Dean and Sloane’s story was a beautiful deeply scarred one. One where like trauma called to like trauma. One where healing came hard but so well deserved for each character. AND THE GLASSES?! Whew new sub trope I never knew I needed 👀. I loved this book but honestly not even surprised because Ria is that girl 💅.
June 23, 2025
Within The Ashes by Ria Wilde
4,25/5⭐
2/5🌶️
This book is the last book in this series and I've been eagerly waiting to read it, especially since the surprise single dad trope has become one of my favorites. I've enjoyed about three or four books featuring this theme, and they’ve all been fantastic, including this one! After finishing the previous book, I couldn’t help but be curious about Dean and Sloane’s story, and it lived up to my expectations. Dean is shocked when he finds a baby on his doorstep, along with a letter revealing that she’s his. Given his past, he’s always shied away from family and relationships, but suddenly, he finds himself responsible for this little life. Then we have Sloane, who’s Savannah’s best friend and has always loved children. She’s got her own secrets too and has been running from her past.
In the earlier book, we catch a glimpse of Dean’s childhood, and it made my heart ache. He prefers solitude, not wanting to have a family, until he lays eyes on his daughter, Lily. At that moment, he instantly falls in love with her and knows he’ll do anything to keep her safe. When Sloane comes into the picture as Lily's nanny, Dean can’t help but feel drawn to her. He soon realizes that she needs protection just as much as his daughter does.
Sloane is such a strong and resilient character! After leaving her family behind, she finds herself in a small town. She’s sweet and endearing, and while she's attracted to Dean, she also carries some fear. I loved watching her gradually let her guard down and start to trust him. Her growth throughout the story is wonderful, and I admire her bravery. The bond she forms with Lily is so heartwarming. I loved how she helped Dean connect with his daughter on a deeper level.
Dean and Sloane’s romance has such a lovely slow burn to it. I appreciated how Dean was always respectful of Sloane’s need for space, while subtly making sure she felt safe and cared for. I also enjoyed the found family dynamic in this story, where all the characters have each other’s backs and offer support through thick and thin. All in all, this book wraps up the series beautifully! I felt so satisfied with the ending, and that epilogue was the sweetest way to conclude it all!
4,25/5⭐
2/5🌶️
This book is the last book in this series and I've been eagerly waiting to read it, especially since the surprise single dad trope has become one of my favorites. I've enjoyed about three or four books featuring this theme, and they’ve all been fantastic, including this one! After finishing the previous book, I couldn’t help but be curious about Dean and Sloane’s story, and it lived up to my expectations. Dean is shocked when he finds a baby on his doorstep, along with a letter revealing that she’s his. Given his past, he’s always shied away from family and relationships, but suddenly, he finds himself responsible for this little life. Then we have Sloane, who’s Savannah’s best friend and has always loved children. She’s got her own secrets too and has been running from her past.
In the earlier book, we catch a glimpse of Dean’s childhood, and it made my heart ache. He prefers solitude, not wanting to have a family, until he lays eyes on his daughter, Lily. At that moment, he instantly falls in love with her and knows he’ll do anything to keep her safe. When Sloane comes into the picture as Lily's nanny, Dean can’t help but feel drawn to her. He soon realizes that she needs protection just as much as his daughter does.
Sloane is such a strong and resilient character! After leaving her family behind, she finds herself in a small town. She’s sweet and endearing, and while she's attracted to Dean, she also carries some fear. I loved watching her gradually let her guard down and start to trust him. Her growth throughout the story is wonderful, and I admire her bravery. The bond she forms with Lily is so heartwarming. I loved how she helped Dean connect with his daughter on a deeper level.
Dean and Sloane’s romance has such a lovely slow burn to it. I appreciated how Dean was always respectful of Sloane’s need for space, while subtly making sure she felt safe and cared for. I also enjoyed the found family dynamic in this story, where all the characters have each other’s backs and offer support through thick and thin. All in all, this book wraps up the series beautifully! I felt so satisfied with the ending, and that epilogue was the sweetest way to conclude it all!
June 21, 2025
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Reading Within the Ashes by Ria Wilde felt like stepping into something sacred, intimate, aching, and quietly powerful. It’s a slow burn single dad/employee romance that doesn’t just simmer, it smolders. The emotional tension, the guarded hearts, the soft unraveling of two people who’ve been through the fire, it’s written with such care that I found myself completely wrapped up in every word.
Receiving the ARC for this book was such a pleasure. After falling in love with the previous books in the series, I knew I was in for something special and Ria did not disappoint. While this story absolutely holds its own as a standalone, there’s something extra rewarding about seeing familiar faces and feeling the warmth of that shared world. The characters overlap in such a meaningful way that if you haven’t read the others yet, you might just want to dive into the whole series after this one.
The single dad? Stoic, hard, scared, and so fiercely devoted that I felt every one of his struggles. And the fmc? Compassionate, quietly strong, and brave enough to see past the walls he’s built, even while dealing with her own struggles. Their story isn’t easy, it’s built on heartbreak, fear , and the slow, steady process of healing but that’s what makes it so unforgettable. Their chemistry is a whisper that grows into a shout, and when they finally give in… whew. Worth. The. Wait.
Ria Wilde continues to prove that she knows how to write characters who feel real, love that burns slow and deep, and emotional journeys that leave a lasting mark. Within the Ashes isn’t just a romance, it’s a fight for survival, a rebuilding, and a love story I’ll be thinking about for a long time.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Reading Within the Ashes by Ria Wilde felt like stepping into something sacred, intimate, aching, and quietly powerful. It’s a slow burn single dad/employee romance that doesn’t just simmer, it smolders. The emotional tension, the guarded hearts, the soft unraveling of two people who’ve been through the fire, it’s written with such care that I found myself completely wrapped up in every word.
Receiving the ARC for this book was such a pleasure. After falling in love with the previous books in the series, I knew I was in for something special and Ria did not disappoint. While this story absolutely holds its own as a standalone, there’s something extra rewarding about seeing familiar faces and feeling the warmth of that shared world. The characters overlap in such a meaningful way that if you haven’t read the others yet, you might just want to dive into the whole series after this one.
The single dad? Stoic, hard, scared, and so fiercely devoted that I felt every one of his struggles. And the fmc? Compassionate, quietly strong, and brave enough to see past the walls he’s built, even while dealing with her own struggles. Their story isn’t easy, it’s built on heartbreak, fear , and the slow, steady process of healing but that’s what makes it so unforgettable. Their chemistry is a whisper that grows into a shout, and when they finally give in… whew. Worth. The. Wait.
Ria Wilde continues to prove that she knows how to write characters who feel real, love that burns slow and deep, and emotional journeys that leave a lasting mark. Within the Ashes isn’t just a romance, it’s a fight for survival, a rebuilding, and a love story I’ll be thinking about for a long time.
July 1, 2025
3.5 ⭑.ᐟ Looks like this was the last book of this series and first book is still my absolute favourite one in the series.
This book wasn't bad, story was good just wish ending was done better. Couple was actually cute~ I loved Dean and Sloane moments and also how cute they were with little Lily (˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶) Ending with everyone and their families was super cute and I loved it. The plot and plot twists at the end were okay. Overall not bad but not good either but still was a good read in my eyes as I have been in months long slump and this one I actually did read and finish~
✮˚.⋆ Book Tropes ⋆.˚✮
- single dad
- slow burn
- he falls first
- found family
- dark romance
- forced proximity
- touch her and die
- morally gray mmc
- boss x employee (she is the nanny)
This book wasn't bad, story was good just wish ending was done better. Couple was actually cute~ I loved Dean and Sloane moments and also how cute they were with little Lily (˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶) Ending with everyone and their families was super cute and I loved it. The plot and plot twists at the end were okay. Overall not bad but not good either but still was a good read in my eyes as I have been in months long slump and this one I actually did read and finish~
✮˚.⋆ Book Tropes ⋆.˚✮
- single dad
- slow burn
- he falls first
- found family
- dark romance
- forced proximity
- touch her and die
- morally gray mmc
- boss x employee (she is the nanny)
July 2, 2025
Thank you to Ria Wilde and Luna Literacy for this ARC! 💞
I went into this thinking I knew what I was getting… but I definitely didn’t. The plot had me hooked and the characters even more so. I throughly enjoyed it, I didn’t expect it to hit me as hard as it did, but Ria did it again, as always.
The twists were well executed and the ending was bittersweet but also very satisfying as a reader who has followed this entire series. It was definitely a perfect close.
I honestly can’t wait to see what Ria has in store now that this chapter is done.
I went into this thinking I knew what I was getting… but I definitely didn’t. The plot had me hooked and the characters even more so. I throughly enjoyed it, I didn’t expect it to hit me as hard as it did, but Ria did it again, as always.
The twists were well executed and the ending was bittersweet but also very satisfying as a reader who has followed this entire series. It was definitely a perfect close.
I honestly can’t wait to see what Ria has in store now that this chapter is done.
June 30, 2025
My FAV book in the series, Dean is MY FAVOURITE MMC. 💓 Loved it. 🫶🫶🫶
Want to read
August 6, 2025Self note:
Does anyone know the safety of this book? Was Dean with OW before meeting Sloane or?
Does anyone know the safety of this book? Was Dean with OW before meeting Sloane or?
June 13, 2025
★★★★☆
Within the Ashes is the kind of emotional finale that leaves you full and frayed in the best way—equal parts slow burn, emotional gut punch, and swoon-worthy tension. It wraps up the Burn for Me series with a soft, protective fire that refuses to go out.
Let’s start with Dean—this man did not want to be a dad, didn't believe in love, and had every wall up you could imagine. But Ria being Ria? She said "let’s wreck him emotionally and rebuild him from scratch." And it worked. The moment he locks eyes with his daughter, Lily, he’s toast. Doesn’t know what he’s doing, doesn’t even want to be doing it, but somehow becomes a phenomenal father purely because he chooses to show up—raw, untrained, and deeply human. That “reluctant single dad turned fiercely loyal father” arc? Yeah. It hits. Especially when it’s paired with his unhinged obsession (and I mean that lovingly) with Sloane.
And Sloane? This woman’s been through hell. She’s not just guarded—she’s practically fortified. Her trauma isn’t window dressing; it matters, and it drives her every move. Her connection with Lily is immediate and heart-melting, and honestly, some of the best moments in the book aren't even the steamy ones—they're watching Sloane find joy in caring again, healing through love that isn’t romantic first.
The dynamic between Sloane and Dean is everything enemies-to-lovers wants to be. At first, they misread each other completely—mutual cold shoulders, inner spirals, and that awkward tension that screams "I hate you because I felt something I didn’t want to feel." But once forced proximity hits, and Sloane ends up helping Dean with Lily, everything unravels beautifully. Dean isn’t just protective—he’s intuitive. He learns Sloane like a language, and the way he constantly puts her comfort and safety above everything? Chef’s kiss. One scene in particular will wreck you in the best way (you’ll know it when you get there).
The plot twist tied to Sloane’s past is well done—not overplayed, but it adds real weight. There’s danger, yes, but the heart of this book is healing. It's about building something sacred from the ashes—hence the title. The entire found family arc that’s been building across the series hits its peak here, and by the end, you feel like you’ve been through war with these people.
Also? Big shout-out to the fact that this isn’t mafia alpha nonsense. Dean is masculine without being toxic. He cries. He panics. He talks. He wraps his daughter in pink and listens to Sloane breathe when she’s scared. That matters.
So why not five stars? Just a bit of pacing drag in the middle where it leaned more heavy on introspection than plot movement. Also, Savannah—love her, but she felt a little too distant in this one given her bond with Sloane. You kind of wish she’d been more there in some of Sloane’s quiet moments. Minor gripe, but it stood out.
Bottom line?
This is how you end a romance series—with scars, softness, and earned love. It’s got all the tropes: single dad, boss/employee, forced proximity, slow burn, found family—but it makes them matter. If you’ve been reading since the beginning, this book will feel like coming home to a fire that’s still burning just for you.
Ria Wilde—take your flowers. You gave us steam, redemption, and a final chapter that felt. I’ll be re-reading this for the comfort, the pain, and the promise that broken doesn’t mean unlovable.
Within the Ashes is the kind of emotional finale that leaves you full and frayed in the best way—equal parts slow burn, emotional gut punch, and swoon-worthy tension. It wraps up the Burn for Me series with a soft, protective fire that refuses to go out.
Let’s start with Dean—this man did not want to be a dad, didn't believe in love, and had every wall up you could imagine. But Ria being Ria? She said "let’s wreck him emotionally and rebuild him from scratch." And it worked. The moment he locks eyes with his daughter, Lily, he’s toast. Doesn’t know what he’s doing, doesn’t even want to be doing it, but somehow becomes a phenomenal father purely because he chooses to show up—raw, untrained, and deeply human. That “reluctant single dad turned fiercely loyal father” arc? Yeah. It hits. Especially when it’s paired with his unhinged obsession (and I mean that lovingly) with Sloane.
And Sloane? This woman’s been through hell. She’s not just guarded—she’s practically fortified. Her trauma isn’t window dressing; it matters, and it drives her every move. Her connection with Lily is immediate and heart-melting, and honestly, some of the best moments in the book aren't even the steamy ones—they're watching Sloane find joy in caring again, healing through love that isn’t romantic first.
The dynamic between Sloane and Dean is everything enemies-to-lovers wants to be. At first, they misread each other completely—mutual cold shoulders, inner spirals, and that awkward tension that screams "I hate you because I felt something I didn’t want to feel." But once forced proximity hits, and Sloane ends up helping Dean with Lily, everything unravels beautifully. Dean isn’t just protective—he’s intuitive. He learns Sloane like a language, and the way he constantly puts her comfort and safety above everything? Chef’s kiss. One scene in particular will wreck you in the best way (you’ll know it when you get there).
The plot twist tied to Sloane’s past is well done—not overplayed, but it adds real weight. There’s danger, yes, but the heart of this book is healing. It's about building something sacred from the ashes—hence the title. The entire found family arc that’s been building across the series hits its peak here, and by the end, you feel like you’ve been through war with these people.
Also? Big shout-out to the fact that this isn’t mafia alpha nonsense. Dean is masculine without being toxic. He cries. He panics. He talks. He wraps his daughter in pink and listens to Sloane breathe when she’s scared. That matters.
So why not five stars? Just a bit of pacing drag in the middle where it leaned more heavy on introspection than plot movement. Also, Savannah—love her, but she felt a little too distant in this one given her bond with Sloane. You kind of wish she’d been more there in some of Sloane’s quiet moments. Minor gripe, but it stood out.
Bottom line?
This is how you end a romance series—with scars, softness, and earned love. It’s got all the tropes: single dad, boss/employee, forced proximity, slow burn, found family—but it makes them matter. If you’ve been reading since the beginning, this book will feel like coming home to a fire that’s still burning just for you.
Ria Wilde—take your flowers. You gave us steam, redemption, and a final chapter that felt. I’ll be re-reading this for the comfort, the pain, and the promise that broken doesn’t mean unlovable.
June 19, 2025
Ria Wilde’s "Within the Ashes" will captivate you with a compelling blend of dark romance, emotional depth, and the struggle for redemption. This fourth installment in the Burn for Me series masterfully intertwines the lives of two characters haunted by their pasts, forcing them to confront their secrets while navigating the complexities of unexpected love.
I’ve read them all and loved them all equally, but book four is definitely my favourite. No need to read the other three as they are all standalone stories, but why deprive yourself of these characters.
Dean, a surprised new dad to a three month old baby girl, is an emotionally complex character. Initially envisioned as the archetypal handsome and confident man, he reveals vulnerability and a deep seated need for connection, especially with Sloane. The way the author unfolds Dean's journey to embrace his fatherhood while confronting the shadows of his past is just heartwarming. (But I still felt there wasn’t a full bond between Lily and her daddy!)
Sloane, a woman cloaked in mystery and desperation. She’s been living a lie to protect herself, which adds layers of intrigue to her character. The author expertly captures Sloane’s internal conflict, her desire for safety versus the yearning for connection. As her circumstances grow dire, Sloane finds herself reluctantly taking a job as a nanny for Dean, a man she deliberately tried to avoid. The tension in their interactions crackles with undeniable chemistry.
The setting itself adds to the story’s intense atmosphere, her writing pulls you into the emotional turmoil these characters face.
The threat looming over Sloane adds a suspenseful layer to the plot, expertly blending romance with elements of danger. The amount of times I found myself fling my poor kindle across the bed!
Will Sloane’s secrets remain safe or will unravel under pressure. 😉
The gradual building of trust between Sloane and Dean as they made their journey toward love felt so authentic. Each moment spent together feels charged with emotion, highlighting how love can flourish even in the most challenging circumstances.
The pacing of the novel is spot on, balancing moments of tension with introspective scenes that deepen the characters’ personalities. As secrets are revealed and the stakes rise, I could t put it down, I needed to find out what happened next!
"Within the Ashes" is an amazing conclusion to the Burn for Me series, blending dark themes with heartfelt moments of love and hope.
It’s a tale that reminds us that even from the ashes, something beautiful can emerge if we dare to take the risk.
A must read for fans of dark romance!
🦋
I’ve read them all and loved them all equally, but book four is definitely my favourite. No need to read the other three as they are all standalone stories, but why deprive yourself of these characters.
Dean, a surprised new dad to a three month old baby girl, is an emotionally complex character. Initially envisioned as the archetypal handsome and confident man, he reveals vulnerability and a deep seated need for connection, especially with Sloane. The way the author unfolds Dean's journey to embrace his fatherhood while confronting the shadows of his past is just heartwarming. (But I still felt there wasn’t a full bond between Lily and her daddy!)
Sloane, a woman cloaked in mystery and desperation. She’s been living a lie to protect herself, which adds layers of intrigue to her character. The author expertly captures Sloane’s internal conflict, her desire for safety versus the yearning for connection. As her circumstances grow dire, Sloane finds herself reluctantly taking a job as a nanny for Dean, a man she deliberately tried to avoid. The tension in their interactions crackles with undeniable chemistry.
The setting itself adds to the story’s intense atmosphere, her writing pulls you into the emotional turmoil these characters face.
The threat looming over Sloane adds a suspenseful layer to the plot, expertly blending romance with elements of danger. The amount of times I found myself fling my poor kindle across the bed!
Will Sloane’s secrets remain safe or will unravel under pressure. 😉
The gradual building of trust between Sloane and Dean as they made their journey toward love felt so authentic. Each moment spent together feels charged with emotion, highlighting how love can flourish even in the most challenging circumstances.
The pacing of the novel is spot on, balancing moments of tension with introspective scenes that deepen the characters’ personalities. As secrets are revealed and the stakes rise, I could t put it down, I needed to find out what happened next!
"Within the Ashes" is an amazing conclusion to the Burn for Me series, blending dark themes with heartfelt moments of love and hope.
It’s a tale that reminds us that even from the ashes, something beautiful can emerge if we dare to take the risk.
A must read for fans of dark romance!
🦋
June 5, 2025
Sloane has spent quite some time running from the ghosts of her past, so when she meets Dean through a mutual friend, she keeps her distance to protect herself. But when Dean suddenly becomes a single father to a beautiful baby girl, Sloane steps in to help care for little Lily. As they navigate co-parenting and slowly build a life together, the real question becomes: how long can they resist the pull between them? This is a love story rooted in healing and the quiet forming of a family. Sloane’s past trauma paired with Dean’s journey into fatherhood created the perfect emotional blend for a deeply moving and endearing read.
“I’m not sure how I’m meant to let you go when you’re all I’ve ever wanted.”
Dean was just utter perfection to me. His gentle and mature demeanour was a perfect match for Sloane’s timid nature and I just adored how patient he was. He wasn’t afraid to show his emotions, there was no mafia macho BS here, no sir. I always say that Malakai has a place in my top 10 MMCs of all time and it’s still true but with every release, his friends challenge his spot on my list and I can’t help but love them all.
And Sloane, oh beautiful, daring, and timid Sloane. I knew going in that her story was going to be a hard one to read but she held a special place in my heart because of her unwavering friendship with Savannah. What I wasn’t expecting was what a beautiful soul she truly was. She loved and cared for Lily in such a wholesome way and her attraction to Dean was just so enticing to read. Yes she’s been through a hard time, yes she’s broken, but she’s so pure and kind, all she needed was to find her strength again and pick herself back up. She’s no damsel in distress, she’s a gem hiding to protect herself and her inner peace. She truly was the perfect FMC to end off this wonderful saga and her story really hit all the emotions within me.
“If she needs me to be her anchor, I will be. I’ll be whatever she asks, do whatever is needed.”
Everything really came full circle and this beautiful found family that we’ve seen being formed over the course of four books finally got to live out their happily ever afters. Through adversity and violence, through really tough times and moments of sadness, here they all are, growing, expanding, thriving and I can’t help but feel so bittersweet about saying goodbye to the Burn for Me family. Ria Wilde really create something special with this series and it’s going to be a comfort re-read for me for many years to come.
“I’m not sure how I’m meant to let you go when you’re all I’ve ever wanted.”
Dean was just utter perfection to me. His gentle and mature demeanour was a perfect match for Sloane’s timid nature and I just adored how patient he was. He wasn’t afraid to show his emotions, there was no mafia macho BS here, no sir. I always say that Malakai has a place in my top 10 MMCs of all time and it’s still true but with every release, his friends challenge his spot on my list and I can’t help but love them all.
And Sloane, oh beautiful, daring, and timid Sloane. I knew going in that her story was going to be a hard one to read but she held a special place in my heart because of her unwavering friendship with Savannah. What I wasn’t expecting was what a beautiful soul she truly was. She loved and cared for Lily in such a wholesome way and her attraction to Dean was just so enticing to read. Yes she’s been through a hard time, yes she’s broken, but she’s so pure and kind, all she needed was to find her strength again and pick herself back up. She’s no damsel in distress, she’s a gem hiding to protect herself and her inner peace. She truly was the perfect FMC to end off this wonderful saga and her story really hit all the emotions within me.
“If she needs me to be her anchor, I will be. I’ll be whatever she asks, do whatever is needed.”
Everything really came full circle and this beautiful found family that we’ve seen being formed over the course of four books finally got to live out their happily ever afters. Through adversity and violence, through really tough times and moments of sadness, here they all are, growing, expanding, thriving and I can’t help but feel so bittersweet about saying goodbye to the Burn for Me family. Ria Wilde really create something special with this series and it’s going to be a comfort re-read for me for many years to come.
June 9, 2025
Within the ashes is Dean‘s book. We learnt a lot about Dean‘s past in his brother‘s book and his views on love and trust our understandable. The common thing with these men has been that they are unlovable, don’t need love and don’t want love. Of course, it just took the right woman to show them how wrong they were.
Sloane is the woman who wins Dan’s heart. Sloane has Her own disturbing past which has walked her view on those around her. What Dean doesn’t know is that Sloane isn’t hiding. The only person that knows her story is her best friend, Savannah. Savannah is also involved with Dean’s brother.
The big difference with the story compared to the others is that Dean is not only bought to his knees by Sloane but by a baby he didn’t even know he had. Out of nowhere Dean is introduced to his baby daughter and has to find a way to care for her, his biggest concern is that he had a terrible role model and never desired to be a father in the first place.
That’s where slow comes in. Sloane has worked with children before she ran away from her past life and Savannah knows how good she is with kids. When Dean is struggling to find his footing with his new daughter Savannah recommends getting help and suggest Sloane.
Now all should be smooth sailing from here except these two don’t like each other. At least that’s what they believe. The problem is that the first time Sloane met Dean he made her feel things she hadn’t felt since the night of her attack and that made her terrified, so instead of embracing the good feelings she retreated and used a cold shoulder to keep Dean at arm’s length. Meanwhile, Dean did find Sloane attractive that night they met but every meeting after was just more of the same distant coldness which left him as equally an interested in her.
But put them around each other long enough and they were bound to find their way.
I really loved both Dean and Sloane‘s characters. Their pasts were similar in some ways and shaped them to be the person they are. I think that how they had different lives they would not have been as great of a match as they were.
We are them a beautiful story that was full of ups and downs and danger. As they found their way to each other, they made a strong unit and built a family around Dean‘s new daughter. On top of that the other guy is in their partners embraced not only Sloane but Dean‘s baby and the found family continue to grow until it was complete.
I think that Ria has made another fantastic book and another fantastic series, and I can’t wait for more from her.
Happy reading.
Sloane is the woman who wins Dan’s heart. Sloane has Her own disturbing past which has walked her view on those around her. What Dean doesn’t know is that Sloane isn’t hiding. The only person that knows her story is her best friend, Savannah. Savannah is also involved with Dean’s brother.
The big difference with the story compared to the others is that Dean is not only bought to his knees by Sloane but by a baby he didn’t even know he had. Out of nowhere Dean is introduced to his baby daughter and has to find a way to care for her, his biggest concern is that he had a terrible role model and never desired to be a father in the first place.
That’s where slow comes in. Sloane has worked with children before she ran away from her past life and Savannah knows how good she is with kids. When Dean is struggling to find his footing with his new daughter Savannah recommends getting help and suggest Sloane.
Now all should be smooth sailing from here except these two don’t like each other. At least that’s what they believe. The problem is that the first time Sloane met Dean he made her feel things she hadn’t felt since the night of her attack and that made her terrified, so instead of embracing the good feelings she retreated and used a cold shoulder to keep Dean at arm’s length. Meanwhile, Dean did find Sloane attractive that night they met but every meeting after was just more of the same distant coldness which left him as equally an interested in her.
But put them around each other long enough and they were bound to find their way.
I really loved both Dean and Sloane‘s characters. Their pasts were similar in some ways and shaped them to be the person they are. I think that how they had different lives they would not have been as great of a match as they were.
We are them a beautiful story that was full of ups and downs and danger. As they found their way to each other, they made a strong unit and built a family around Dean‘s new daughter. On top of that the other guy is in their partners embraced not only Sloane but Dean‘s baby and the found family continue to grow until it was complete.
I think that Ria has made another fantastic book and another fantastic series, and I can’t wait for more from her.
Happy reading.
July 24, 2025
blurb
Dean
A truth for a truth?
Becoming a father was never part of the plan, but then a one-night stand shows up with a three-month-old baby girl and completely upturns my life.
Now I’m a single dad and I have no idea what I am doing.
I need help, so when a friend suggests hiring a nanny, I jump at it.
And then she walked through my door.
Sloane and I have never really seen eye to eye, but there’s no denying how good she is with my daughter.
Now we spend every day together, and I’m starting to realize that the hard-shelled woman is harboring secrets and I want them.
But more than that... I want her.
When a threat is made against her, she has no choice but to move in with me and the more time we spend together, the harder it is to deny how much she’s crawled under my skin.
But with all these secrets between us, the foundations are crumbling and once everything is done falling, what will be left of us within the ashes?
Sloane
But only these secrets can keep me safe.
For months I have lived a lie, pretended to be someone I am not and for months it has kept me safe, but I’m running out of money, and I desperately need a job.
Even if the job comes from a man I really want to avoid.
He sees things I want to hide, makes me feel things that threaten the sanctuary I have created for myself.
When everything comes crashing down around us, I have no choice but to turn to him, and the longer we spend together, the harder it becomes to hide who I really am.
Are my secrets safe with him?
Or will the past come back to find me?
thoughts
AHHHH I can't believe this series is over😭 I have absolutely adored learning about all 4 of these couples but I'm ngl Sloane and dean are my officially favorite couple. I absolutely love a singe dad romance and this one was sooo good!! I adored dean and my heart absolutely broke for his character and all the trauma he had to go through as a kid. He was such a goo dad and I loved seeing him trying to be the dad Lilly needed. Sloane my goodness this girl had me crying with her, she was put through hell and l loved watching her character grow and heal! this book was defiantly a slow burn but it was worth the wait🥵 as always the storyline line was fantastic and really keeps me engaged in the story I swear I never see the twists coming and it always hits hard! I absolutely highly recommend this book!!
Dean
A truth for a truth?
Becoming a father was never part of the plan, but then a one-night stand shows up with a three-month-old baby girl and completely upturns my life.
Now I’m a single dad and I have no idea what I am doing.
I need help, so when a friend suggests hiring a nanny, I jump at it.
And then she walked through my door.
Sloane and I have never really seen eye to eye, but there’s no denying how good she is with my daughter.
Now we spend every day together, and I’m starting to realize that the hard-shelled woman is harboring secrets and I want them.
But more than that... I want her.
When a threat is made against her, she has no choice but to move in with me and the more time we spend together, the harder it is to deny how much she’s crawled under my skin.
But with all these secrets between us, the foundations are crumbling and once everything is done falling, what will be left of us within the ashes?
Sloane
But only these secrets can keep me safe.
For months I have lived a lie, pretended to be someone I am not and for months it has kept me safe, but I’m running out of money, and I desperately need a job.
Even if the job comes from a man I really want to avoid.
He sees things I want to hide, makes me feel things that threaten the sanctuary I have created for myself.
When everything comes crashing down around us, I have no choice but to turn to him, and the longer we spend together, the harder it becomes to hide who I really am.
Are my secrets safe with him?
Or will the past come back to find me?
thoughts
AHHHH I can't believe this series is over😭 I have absolutely adored learning about all 4 of these couples but I'm ngl Sloane and dean are my officially favorite couple. I absolutely love a singe dad romance and this one was sooo good!! I adored dean and my heart absolutely broke for his character and all the trauma he had to go through as a kid. He was such a goo dad and I loved seeing him trying to be the dad Lilly needed. Sloane my goodness this girl had me crying with her, she was put through hell and l loved watching her character grow and heal! this book was defiantly a slow burn but it was worth the wait🥵 as always the storyline line was fantastic and really keeps me engaged in the story I swear I never see the twists coming and it always hits hard! I absolutely highly recommend this book!!
September 3, 2025
3.75
Loved dean. Liked Sloan. Just felt the story fell abit flat in the middle.
Loved the epilogue. Killian & sav my fave couple but malakais book was the best.
I read people; I see them when they don’t want me to. A talent I picked up when I was younger, and I needed to read a room and a mood so I could predict how the night would end.
“Sloane has her own past, and this is how it is with her; just let her be.” I feel my nostrils flare. No. I’ll not just let her be. Inwardly, I hear a small voice laughing. Pot meet kettle.
“And what?” He flicks his eyes to me, “You were going to sleep in jeans?” My arms cross across my chest, and I cock my head, “Naked, actually.” A strangled noise leaves him before he covers it with a cough that makes Lily jump. “Fuck!” He growls.
she has my daughter in her arms, and she’s dancing with her. Fuck. I think I just fell in love.
“We are going to make her ours, Lily Flower,” I promise my daughter, “We are.”
“You’re so fucking big,” I complain, shifting my hips to try to take more. “Am I supposed to apologize?” He chuckles.
“You say this’ll end,” He speaks toward the ceiling, “But I’m not sure how I’m meant to let you go when you’re all I’ve ever wanted.”
“Stop, please!” Her voice screams through the speakers, my spine going ramrod straight as panic injects into my system. “Sloane!?” I bellow her name. “Sloane!” “No!” She cries, her terror lacing the word. Her fear is an ice-cold bucket of water. “I’m coming!” I yell, slamming my hand down on the horn. “I’m coming, Sloane, you hear me!?”
“We’re monsters to everyone else but the people we love.” I tell her. Her head snaps up. “What did you just say?” I curl a finger under her chin to force her to keep her eyes on me. “You didn’t know it already, Butterfly?” I tease.
“Love him, Sloane, because you only get one shot at true, honest to god love, and if this is that shot, and you walk away, you’re only going to hurt yourself.”
It never fails to hit me in the feels whenever we all get together like this. A family I didn’t know I needed, friendships that’ll last a lifetime. We’re a village, when one of us needs something, they’re there without question or hesitation.
Loved dean. Liked Sloan. Just felt the story fell abit flat in the middle.
Loved the epilogue. Killian & sav my fave couple but malakais book was the best.
I read people; I see them when they don’t want me to. A talent I picked up when I was younger, and I needed to read a room and a mood so I could predict how the night would end.
“Sloane has her own past, and this is how it is with her; just let her be.” I feel my nostrils flare. No. I’ll not just let her be. Inwardly, I hear a small voice laughing. Pot meet kettle.
“And what?” He flicks his eyes to me, “You were going to sleep in jeans?” My arms cross across my chest, and I cock my head, “Naked, actually.” A strangled noise leaves him before he covers it with a cough that makes Lily jump. “Fuck!” He growls.
she has my daughter in her arms, and she’s dancing with her. Fuck. I think I just fell in love.
“We are going to make her ours, Lily Flower,” I promise my daughter, “We are.”
“You’re so fucking big,” I complain, shifting my hips to try to take more. “Am I supposed to apologize?” He chuckles.
“You say this’ll end,” He speaks toward the ceiling, “But I’m not sure how I’m meant to let you go when you’re all I’ve ever wanted.”
“Stop, please!” Her voice screams through the speakers, my spine going ramrod straight as panic injects into my system. “Sloane!?” I bellow her name. “Sloane!” “No!” She cries, her terror lacing the word. Her fear is an ice-cold bucket of water. “I’m coming!” I yell, slamming my hand down on the horn. “I’m coming, Sloane, you hear me!?”
“We’re monsters to everyone else but the people we love.” I tell her. Her head snaps up. “What did you just say?” I curl a finger under her chin to force her to keep her eyes on me. “You didn’t know it already, Butterfly?” I tease.
“Love him, Sloane, because you only get one shot at true, honest to god love, and if this is that shot, and you walk away, you’re only going to hurt yourself.”
It never fails to hit me in the feels whenever we all get together like this. A family I didn’t know I needed, friendships that’ll last a lifetime. We’re a village, when one of us needs something, they’re there without question or hesitation.
June 2, 2025
This book only landed on my kindle yesterday and I devoured it, seriously couldn’t put it down. This is the fourth and final book in the series and while it was so bittersweet to be saying goodbye to these characters Ria ended this series absolutely perfectly with Dean and Sloane.
If you are up to date with the series you will know at the end of the last book a baby was left on Deans doorstep, his daughter. Of course Deans world instantly changes overnight as now he is a father to Lily, and he does struggle with adapting to parenthood as I feel all new parents do. Savannah suggests to Dean that he should potentially hire a nanny to help, which Savannah already has the perfect candidate in mind and you guessed it, her best friend Sloane.
Sloane is a woman with a lot of secrets, and the only person who is aware of her situation is Savannah. She is a women who has her walls built very high and she doesn’t trust very easily and rightfully so based on past events. While Sloane loves working with children it was a no brainer that she was the most suitable person for the job but she was hesitant at first and again this was linked to past trauma.
I absolutely loved Dean. It was quite obvious that he felt something for Sloane since the moment he met her. He managed to get Sloane to lower her walls piece by piece and showed her that she could trust him, especially with her secrets. It was honestly so beautiful to see their relationship develop and also Sloane find herself with once again was heartwarming . Also the fact that Sloane was the missing piece in their family honestly brought a tear to my eye😭.
This series honestly has my heart- reading and experiencing each and every one of these characters journeys was phenomenal. Every high, every low, the moments that made me laugh, cry and almost throw my kindle. I’m so sad to be saying goodbye but all good things must come to an end and Ria ended this series perfectly.
Thank you so much to the author who provided this e-arc for my honest thoughts 💭
If you are up to date with the series you will know at the end of the last book a baby was left on Deans doorstep, his daughter. Of course Deans world instantly changes overnight as now he is a father to Lily, and he does struggle with adapting to parenthood as I feel all new parents do. Savannah suggests to Dean that he should potentially hire a nanny to help, which Savannah already has the perfect candidate in mind and you guessed it, her best friend Sloane.
Sloane is a woman with a lot of secrets, and the only person who is aware of her situation is Savannah. She is a women who has her walls built very high and she doesn’t trust very easily and rightfully so based on past events. While Sloane loves working with children it was a no brainer that she was the most suitable person for the job but she was hesitant at first and again this was linked to past trauma.
I absolutely loved Dean. It was quite obvious that he felt something for Sloane since the moment he met her. He managed to get Sloane to lower her walls piece by piece and showed her that she could trust him, especially with her secrets. It was honestly so beautiful to see their relationship develop and also Sloane find herself with once again was heartwarming . Also the fact that Sloane was the missing piece in their family honestly brought a tear to my eye😭.
This series honestly has my heart- reading and experiencing each and every one of these characters journeys was phenomenal. Every high, every low, the moments that made me laugh, cry and almost throw my kindle. I’m so sad to be saying goodbye but all good things must come to an end and Ria ended this series perfectly.
Thank you so much to the author who provided this e-arc for my honest thoughts 💭
June 8, 2025
ARC Review
4.5⭐️
I am absolutely wrecked in the best possible way. Within the Ashes might be the last book in the Burn for Me series, but it completely set my heart on fire—and then stomped all over it (again, in the best way).
Let’s start with Dane. Oh. My. God.🫠 I died. Resurrected. And died again. He’s everything—the reluctant single dad who’s trying his best, totally out of his depth, but you just know he’d burn the world to protect his little girl. And when Sloane enters the picture? Game over. Dane goes from hot to absolutely devastating. The intensity, the tension, the quiet protectiveness—he’s the kind of man you want to hate for being that perfect, but instead you fall even harder for him with every chapter.
Then there's Sloane, and wow, my heart broke for her. She’s guarded, fierce, and layered in ways that made me ache. The trauma she carries, the secrets she’s forced to keep to survive—it made me want to reach through the pages and just hold her. Her chemistry with Dane is electric, but it’s also tender and raw. Watching her slowly let her walls down, even when she’s terrified to trust again, was one of the most powerful parts of the story.
Ria Wilde does such a phenomenal job balancing the heat (and yes, it’s 🔥🔥🔥) with the emotional depth. There’s real pain in these characters, but there’s also so much healing and hope. The way their relationship unfolds—forced proximity, mutual care, slow but scorching burn—it’s everything I love in a dark romance.
I’m honestly sad this series is over, but I couldn’t have asked for a better finale. Within the Ashes gave me steam, heartbreak, redemption, and a love story that felt earned. I’m obsessed.
I also want to say how truly grateful I am for the ARC. Being able to read this early was such a gift, and I feel so lucky to have witnessed this love story before the rest of the world gets their hands on it. Thank you, Ria, for this unforgettable journey and for ending the series with so much heart and fire!!🤧💚
4.5⭐️
I am absolutely wrecked in the best possible way. Within the Ashes might be the last book in the Burn for Me series, but it completely set my heart on fire—and then stomped all over it (again, in the best way).
Let’s start with Dane. Oh. My. God.🫠 I died. Resurrected. And died again. He’s everything—the reluctant single dad who’s trying his best, totally out of his depth, but you just know he’d burn the world to protect his little girl. And when Sloane enters the picture? Game over. Dane goes from hot to absolutely devastating. The intensity, the tension, the quiet protectiveness—he’s the kind of man you want to hate for being that perfect, but instead you fall even harder for him with every chapter.
Then there's Sloane, and wow, my heart broke for her. She’s guarded, fierce, and layered in ways that made me ache. The trauma she carries, the secrets she’s forced to keep to survive—it made me want to reach through the pages and just hold her. Her chemistry with Dane is electric, but it’s also tender and raw. Watching her slowly let her walls down, even when she’s terrified to trust again, was one of the most powerful parts of the story.
Ria Wilde does such a phenomenal job balancing the heat (and yes, it’s 🔥🔥🔥) with the emotional depth. There’s real pain in these characters, but there’s also so much healing and hope. The way their relationship unfolds—forced proximity, mutual care, slow but scorching burn—it’s everything I love in a dark romance.
I’m honestly sad this series is over, but I couldn’t have asked for a better finale. Within the Ashes gave me steam, heartbreak, redemption, and a love story that felt earned. I’m obsessed.
I also want to say how truly grateful I am for the ARC. Being able to read this early was such a gift, and I feel so lucky to have witnessed this love story before the rest of the world gets their hands on it. Thank you, Ria, for this unforgettable journey and for ending the series with so much heart and fire!!🤧💚
June 23, 2025
-single dad x nanny
-she has a troubled past (stalker who tried to kill her)
-he is part of a secret mercenary organization
-he has piercings
-takes a bullet for her
-spicy scenes were sooo good
-he wears glasses
-calls her butterfly
-found family
-helping her after a nightmare
-she has anxiety attacks and he helps her through them
-cute daddy taking care of his baby girl moments
Book highlights
-she has a troubled past (stalker who tried to kill her)
-he is part of a secret mercenary organization
-he has piercings
-takes a bullet for her
-spicy scenes were sooo good
-he wears glasses
-calls her butterfly
-found family
-helping her after a nightmare
-she has anxiety attacks and he helps her through them
-cute daddy taking care of his baby girl moments
Book highlights
She’s not wearing a fucking bra.
The shirt is huge on her, but there’s no hiding the way it forms to her chest, her nipples pressing against the material. How pathetic does it make me to be fucking jealous of a damn T-shirt?
She leaves with a blush on her cheeks, only this one spreads down her pretty, slender neck and disappears beneath the neckline of my T-shirt.
There’s something right about seeing a woman in your clothing, how it hangs off her, how she looks so free and comfortable in it, but it’s like a claiming. Even if Sloane isn’t mine.
The skin has been slashed in several places, leaving long, harsh lines in her flesh, one of them severs the ink swirls of her tattoo, cutting a single butterfly right in half.
Anger blasts through me, my heart stopping and restarting like a jackknife.
“Who did this to you?” There is nothing human left in my voice. “Who did this?”
I never thought three days was a long time until right fucking now. She’s everywhere, in the shampoo left in the main bathroom and the new strawberry flavored yogurts in the fridge. She’s the thousands of hair ties left everywhere, and the half-finished bottle of wine. I smell her on the couch, the sugary scent of her perfume threaded into the fabric, and see her with the nail polishes left on the coffee table in the living room.
June 23, 2025
𝕎𝕚𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕒𝕤𝕙𝕖𝕤 by @authorriawilde
Ria's books always get you in your feels, there isn't a book of rias that I haven't read that didn't make me feel a certain type of way 🥹 her books and characters are truly beautiful.
Sloan - her past made her a shell of a person, her trauma a living breathing thing constantly riding her back, controlling every aspect of her life. Suffering from severe anxiety Sloan doesn't let anyone in apart from her best friend, shes constantly looking over her shoulder waiting for her past to make an appearance. When she meets dean she feels things she hasn't for a long time but she can't trust herself to let go with the threat of her past still looming over her head.
'𝑺𝒉𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒎𝒚 𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒓𝒖𝒊𝒏. 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒆𝒕, 𝑰 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝑰’𝒍𝒍 𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒌 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒍𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒎𝒚𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒔'
Dean - detached and cold he like to keep to himself, his solitude is everything to him especially with the work he does. His whole world is flipped when he finds a baby on his doorstep, his daughter that he never knew existed. Navigating his new role takes its tole and when he realises he needs help Sloan is the best person for the job.
“𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒂 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒈𝒐 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝑰 𝒘𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝑵𝒐𝒕 𝒂 𝒃𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒆𝒏𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒕𝒐 𝒌𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒎𝒆 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝑵𝒐𝒕 𝒂 𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑰 𝒘𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒚, 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒂 𝒅𝒐𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒎𝒆, 𝒏𝒐𝒓 𝒂 𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒕𝒉 𝑰 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒈𝒐 𝒕𝒐 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖.”
Sloan and deans relationship doesn't start off on the best foot, even though they have chemistry and banter. Sloan's too guarded and deans more than happy to unravel her secrets. The more time they spend together the more they can't resist the pull they feel towards eachother.
'𝑾𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒇𝒍𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒔, 𝒃𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒖𝒔, 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒘𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒘 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒆𝒍𝒔𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒚. 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒔'
Ria's books always get you in your feels, there isn't a book of rias that I haven't read that didn't make me feel a certain type of way 🥹 her books and characters are truly beautiful.
Sloan - her past made her a shell of a person, her trauma a living breathing thing constantly riding her back, controlling every aspect of her life. Suffering from severe anxiety Sloan doesn't let anyone in apart from her best friend, shes constantly looking over her shoulder waiting for her past to make an appearance. When she meets dean she feels things she hasn't for a long time but she can't trust herself to let go with the threat of her past still looming over her head.
'𝑺𝒉𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒎𝒚 𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒓𝒖𝒊𝒏. 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒆𝒕, 𝑰 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝑰’𝒍𝒍 𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒌 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒍𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒎𝒚𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒔'
Dean - detached and cold he like to keep to himself, his solitude is everything to him especially with the work he does. His whole world is flipped when he finds a baby on his doorstep, his daughter that he never knew existed. Navigating his new role takes its tole and when he realises he needs help Sloan is the best person for the job.
“𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒂 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒈𝒐 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝑰 𝒘𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝑵𝒐𝒕 𝒂 𝒃𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒆𝒏𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒕𝒐 𝒌𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒎𝒆 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝑵𝒐𝒕 𝒂 𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑰 𝒘𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒚, 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒂 𝒅𝒐𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒎𝒆, 𝒏𝒐𝒓 𝒂 𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒕𝒉 𝑰 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒈𝒐 𝒕𝒐 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖.”
Sloan and deans relationship doesn't start off on the best foot, even though they have chemistry and banter. Sloan's too guarded and deans more than happy to unravel her secrets. The more time they spend together the more they can't resist the pull they feel towards eachother.
'𝑾𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒇𝒍𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒔, 𝒃𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒖𝒔, 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒘𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒘 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒆𝒍𝒔𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒚. 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒔'
July 4, 2025
STOP. I absolutely LOVED this book—I don’t care what anyone else has to say.
This was hands down the best one in the series. It made me laugh, cry, and even want to throw my laptop across the room… but oh well, it was worth every second.
Dean and Sloane were absolutely perfect for each other. The whole single dad/nanny dynamic was so well done—it just worked for them. What I appreciated was how the story didn’t rush their relationship. They took their time getting to know each other, building trust, and slowly growing closer. That made everything feel real and even more emotional.
Sloane was such a strong main character. After everything she went through with her stalker and starting a brand-new life all on her own, her strength and resilience really stood out. I also loved that the book brought awareness to real-life issues—what so many women go through with stalkers. It opened my eyes to the harsh realities some people face every day.
Now Dean… yeah, this man is exactly what I want in a boyfriend or husband. Hot, nerdy, and pierced? Sign me up!! He was so patient and understanding with Sloane, taking everything day by day for her. He was such an incredible book boyfriend—I swear, if someone like him were up for sale, I’d buy him for a million dollars, no questions asked.
Also, since this was the last book in the series, getting to see all the characters from previous books and how their lives had progressed was such a heartfelt experience. Watching everyone grow over the years was beautiful, and the epilogue? Perfection. Such a sweet, emotional sendoff for a series I loved with literally everything in me.
I have zero regrets reading this series. It was genuinely perfect, and I’m so sad it had to end.
This was hands down the best one in the series. It made me laugh, cry, and even want to throw my laptop across the room… but oh well, it was worth every second.
Dean and Sloane were absolutely perfect for each other. The whole single dad/nanny dynamic was so well done—it just worked for them. What I appreciated was how the story didn’t rush their relationship. They took their time getting to know each other, building trust, and slowly growing closer. That made everything feel real and even more emotional.
Sloane was such a strong main character. After everything she went through with her stalker and starting a brand-new life all on her own, her strength and resilience really stood out. I also loved that the book brought awareness to real-life issues—what so many women go through with stalkers. It opened my eyes to the harsh realities some people face every day.
Now Dean… yeah, this man is exactly what I want in a boyfriend or husband. Hot, nerdy, and pierced? Sign me up!! He was so patient and understanding with Sloane, taking everything day by day for her. He was such an incredible book boyfriend—I swear, if someone like him were up for sale, I’d buy him for a million dollars, no questions asked.
Also, since this was the last book in the series, getting to see all the characters from previous books and how their lives had progressed was such a heartfelt experience. Watching everyone grow over the years was beautiful, and the epilogue? Perfection. Such a sweet, emotional sendoff for a series I loved with literally everything in me.
I have zero regrets reading this series. It was genuinely perfect, and I’m so sad it had to end.
June 26, 2025
𝙰𝚁𝙲 𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚛:
~
‘𝘛𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘮𝘦, 𝘉𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘭𝘺, 𝘐'𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘧𝘢𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴, 𝘐'𝘮 𝘯𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘯’
~
In 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘴, Sloane Reynolds is living a lie; pretending to be someone else, its’ kept her safe for months, but she’s running out of money and needs a job but looking means putting herself in a system that’ll make her vulnerable.
Dean Archer never planned to be father; his up bringing wasn’t something to write about, and he didn’t want to bring an innocent being into the world, thinking that he could pass the cruelty gene, it didn’t seem plausible.
𝘍𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘴; a one-night stand that results in a baby girl, whose mother has left abandoned on his doorstep, an unplanned baby was not something Dean had imagined would ever happen to him.
When his sister-in-law, Savannah recommends Dean finds a babysitter to help him and teach him how to care for his daughter –𝘓𝘪𝘭𝘺– she offers the perfect person for the job, Sloane.
They both reluctantly agree, knowing that this job is strictly business … yet when fleeting touches lead to a forbidden romance, nothing can stand in their way of happiness until the past decides to come back, and now it’s up to them to decided how to work as a team to achieve their happily ever after.
~
‘𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘦𝘵, 𝘐 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘴’
𝘐 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯 … Miss Ria Wilde, you have done it again, I could not and 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 put this book down. The dynamic between Sloane and Dean was absolutely everything enemies-to-lover embodies, but once the forced proximity hit … 𝘪𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘴.
Dean’s protectiveness towards Lily was beyond sweet, even though he never envisioned being a father, he knew once that role was bestowed on him, he would take charge and be the best father figure he could be and break the cycle.
Sloane’s past was writing with such care and precision that when we get a snippet of her story, it made me feel as if I was physically in the room and I just wanted to hug her and tell her everything was going to be ok.
Ria Wilde, knows how to end a romance series, with that being said, I bow down to the queen.
~
𝑅𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓈: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝒮𝓅𝒾𝒸𝑒: 🌶️🌶️
~
Thank you to Ria Wilde & team for allowing me to be an ARC reader for her latest release & I cannot wait to indulge in any future character’s storyline ♡
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‘𝘛𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘮𝘦, 𝘉𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘭𝘺, 𝘐'𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘧𝘢𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴, 𝘐'𝘮 𝘯𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘯’
~
In 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘴, Sloane Reynolds is living a lie; pretending to be someone else, its’ kept her safe for months, but she’s running out of money and needs a job but looking means putting herself in a system that’ll make her vulnerable.
Dean Archer never planned to be father; his up bringing wasn’t something to write about, and he didn’t want to bring an innocent being into the world, thinking that he could pass the cruelty gene, it didn’t seem plausible.
𝘍𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘴; a one-night stand that results in a baby girl, whose mother has left abandoned on his doorstep, an unplanned baby was not something Dean had imagined would ever happen to him.
When his sister-in-law, Savannah recommends Dean finds a babysitter to help him and teach him how to care for his daughter –𝘓𝘪𝘭𝘺– she offers the perfect person for the job, Sloane.
They both reluctantly agree, knowing that this job is strictly business … yet when fleeting touches lead to a forbidden romance, nothing can stand in their way of happiness until the past decides to come back, and now it’s up to them to decided how to work as a team to achieve their happily ever after.
~
‘𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘦𝘵, 𝘐 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘴’
𝘐 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯 … Miss Ria Wilde, you have done it again, I could not and 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 put this book down. The dynamic between Sloane and Dean was absolutely everything enemies-to-lover embodies, but once the forced proximity hit … 𝘪𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘴.
Dean’s protectiveness towards Lily was beyond sweet, even though he never envisioned being a father, he knew once that role was bestowed on him, he would take charge and be the best father figure he could be and break the cycle.
Sloane’s past was writing with such care and precision that when we get a snippet of her story, it made me feel as if I was physically in the room and I just wanted to hug her and tell her everything was going to be ok.
Ria Wilde, knows how to end a romance series, with that being said, I bow down to the queen.
~
𝑅𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓈: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝒮𝓅𝒾𝒸𝑒: 🌶️🌶️
~
Thank you to Ria Wilde & team for allowing me to be an ARC reader for her latest release & I cannot wait to indulge in any future character’s storyline ♡
June 20, 2025
So freakin good! It’s stalking and unaliving, wicked hot chemistry and all kinds of tension, and from the second the morally grey single dad who’s hot enough to make panties spontaneously combust, hires the smart mouthed blonde that’s torn between running as fast and as far as she can and ripping off her new boss’s clothes, it just ignites and gives you a deliciously dark romance that ‘s tempered with a softness and understanding that only two people who know what it’s like to have scars etched permanently into their souls can offer each other. There’s an intensity that sucks you in and pulls you under, a lightness in a dad connecting with his daughter and a woman learning to live again, that shot of possessive, obsessive, mine whether she likes it or not that always hits so right, and the peace, the safety, and the comfort Dean and Sloane find with each other is just straight touching. A resounding oh my god yes kind of read that has you devouring every page.
So much to love about this read! Dean is that all kinds of perfect MMC that has you hot and bothered, throws I’ll protect you with my life vibes galore, and seeing him struggle at first with his daughter makes him that much more likeable and tips your heart on its side. Sloane is most definitely a character that breaks your heart but her instinctual pull to Dean, the way she feels safe with him and how she comes alive because with him she can breathe, so incredibly fantastic. Really overall just a great read that delivers a little of everything, taps right into your feelings, like all of them, and finishes brilliantly.
So much to love about this read! Dean is that all kinds of perfect MMC that has you hot and bothered, throws I’ll protect you with my life vibes galore, and seeing him struggle at first with his daughter makes him that much more likeable and tips your heart on its side. Sloane is most definitely a character that breaks your heart but her instinctual pull to Dean, the way she feels safe with him and how she comes alive because with him she can breathe, so incredibly fantastic. Really overall just a great read that delivers a little of everything, taps right into your feelings, like all of them, and finishes brilliantly.
June 8, 2025
📖Title: Within the ashes
🖊️ Author: Ria Wilde
⭐ Rating: (4.8/5)
Tropes to expect
🦋 single dad
🦋 Boss X Employee
🦋Slow burn
🦋Forced proximity
🦋Found family
🦋FMC in hiding
✨ Quick Summary:
The absolute prefect finish to one of my favorite series !
If you read Embers of us, you know we ended off finding out Dean is a daddy ! Insert Sloane who is the perfect fit to help him adjust to fatherhood. But Sloane has secrets & is running from her past. Dean wants to keep her but will she let him ?!
The patience & love Dean shows sloane was so beautiful to watch. The push & pull between these characters is incredible & the mystery of who hurt Sloane had me on the edge of my seat. I can confidently say I was surprised at the twists in this book & I’m so sad to say goodbye to these characters
💖 What I Loved:
• The chemistry between characters
• The found family between all the characters in this series
• Emotional depth
• the twists & turns that keep you wanting more
🔥 Favorite Quote or Moment:
“Sloane Reynolds is a flight risk, she’s got just the right amount of nervous energy that would have people steering clear of her. But I’m in too deep, my curiosity has its claws in, and there isn’t an awful lot I won’t do to find out everything I want to know.”
“You say this’ll end,” He speaks toward the ceiling, “But I’m not sure how I’m meant to let you go when you’re all I’ve ever wanted.”
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