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Ashes and Other Inheritances: A Small Town Best Friends Mystery Novel with a Sweet Romance
“Haunting and beautiful. This soulful novel makes you wonder if some flames are never truly extinguished.”
~ Em S. A’cor, Author of the Tweet Hearts Series
When practical Morgan buys a journal in a small-town antique shop, she doesn’t expect it to stir echoes of a life she never lived. Written by a woman named Matilda, who died in a fire a hundred years ago, the diary seems to be guiding Morgan on an unexpected adventure, unlocking a century-old mystery.
As Morgan unravels Mattie’s story, she finds herself tangled in a web of family secrets, missing heirlooms, and a tragedy that still lingers in the town’s bones. But the deeper she digs, the more she discovers about herself—and an old flame she thought had long since burned out.
Ashes and Other Inheritances is a soulful blend of mystery, memory, and sweet romance, where a supernatural bond and relics of a long-gone time spark a journey of self-discovery, second chances, and the kind of love that rises from the ashes.
Can the tug of déjà vu lead Morgan to her happy ending?
~ Em S. A’cor, Author of the Tweet Hearts Series
When practical Morgan buys a journal in a small-town antique shop, she doesn’t expect it to stir echoes of a life she never lived. Written by a woman named Matilda, who died in a fire a hundred years ago, the diary seems to be guiding Morgan on an unexpected adventure, unlocking a century-old mystery.
As Morgan unravels Mattie’s story, she finds herself tangled in a web of family secrets, missing heirlooms, and a tragedy that still lingers in the town’s bones. But the deeper she digs, the more she discovers about herself—and an old flame she thought had long since burned out.
Ashes and Other Inheritances is a soulful blend of mystery, memory, and sweet romance, where a supernatural bond and relics of a long-gone time spark a journey of self-discovery, second chances, and the kind of love that rises from the ashes.
Can the tug of déjà vu lead Morgan to her happy ending?
270 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 12, 2026
2 people are currently reading
6 people want to read
About the author
Cori Wamsley
9 books9 followersCori Wamsley writes the Soul Sisterhood series, best friend stories with a side of sweet romance. Her books are enchanting and witty women’s fiction, woven with the magic of self-discovery, history, adventure, and falling in love. She has been writing since middle school and started because, after years of loving books, she thought she could write them herself. But she was wrong, lol! Years later, she has found that her characters won’t leave her alone till she tells their stories. They live in her head and tell her little tidbits about themselves. Sometimes she sees it as a movie, and sometimes she hears it as a whisper in her thoughts, but it’s always something that makes her want to pull on that thread and unravel the story so she can put it together for others to enjoy.
Cori has written eleven books, with her latest coming out in March of 2025, Good in Theory. It’s the third in the Soul Sisterhood series.
Aside from writing books, she also runs a small publishing house where she helps authors write and publish their personal stories, as well as some fiction. She lives in Pittsburgh, PA, US, with her husband and two creative tween daughters. When she's not at her desk, she loves painting, crafting, playing piano, and singing. She's also into reading sweet romance and dreaming about traveling to Europe.
Connect with Cori at www.coriwamsley.com or on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok.
Cori has written eleven books, with her latest coming out in March of 2025, Good in Theory. It’s the third in the Soul Sisterhood series.
Aside from writing books, she also runs a small publishing house where she helps authors write and publish their personal stories, as well as some fiction. She lives in Pittsburgh, PA, US, with her husband and two creative tween daughters. When she's not at her desk, she loves painting, crafting, playing piano, and singing. She's also into reading sweet romance and dreaming about traveling to Europe.
Connect with Cori at www.coriwamsley.com or on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 30, 2026
This book had lots of feel good moments. I really enjoyed Morgan’s little adventure. Morgan finds an old journal and decides to read it, only to discover part of it missing and a hundred year old mystery. Throw in some romance (not one, but 2 guys?!?!) and I couldn’t put the book down. Any time an author can make me smile and feel giddy while reading is a good book.
I received a free copy for review.
I received a free copy for review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Overall, I enjoyed this book. The plot was interesting, and I wondered how everything was going to fit together in the end. It was one of those books where I really looked forward to sneaking a few moments to read more of it.
This book had a great ending. I feel like it struggled a bit at the beginning. There were a few places where I felt like we were given information a bit later than we should have been given it, or where certain scenes were forced into the story unnaturally. By about the halfway point, we were no longer encountering these issues.
I have not read the other books in the series. Maybe some of the information that I felt like came late was explained better in the previous books.
This book does include some swearing. It's not prevalent. I don't think there are more than maybe 10 swear words in the whole book, but they are there. There are also a few incidents of the characters using the Lord's name in vain. That's not going to bother some readers. I feel like the language didn't fit with the book in general because it was otherwise a clean book with no sexual content or violence on the pages. There was some behind-the-scenes violence, though.
This book does have some supernatural elements. Morgan was being helped by someone who had passed on, and she was guided to places, ideas, and people that she otherwise might not have encountered. I thought it was handled in a mostly believable way.
I received a free ARC from BookSirens, and I left a voluntary review.
This book had a great ending. I feel like it struggled a bit at the beginning. There were a few places where I felt like we were given information a bit later than we should have been given it, or where certain scenes were forced into the story unnaturally. By about the halfway point, we were no longer encountering these issues.
I have not read the other books in the series. Maybe some of the information that I felt like came late was explained better in the previous books.
This book does include some swearing. It's not prevalent. I don't think there are more than maybe 10 swear words in the whole book, but they are there. There are also a few incidents of the characters using the Lord's name in vain. That's not going to bother some readers. I feel like the language didn't fit with the book in general because it was otherwise a clean book with no sexual content or violence on the pages. There was some behind-the-scenes violence, though.
This book does have some supernatural elements. Morgan was being helped by someone who had passed on, and she was guided to places, ideas, and people that she otherwise might not have encountered. I thought it was handled in a mostly believable way.
I received a free ARC from BookSirens, and I left a voluntary review.
March 31, 2026
This book started off as a bit of a slow burn for me, the first 50 pages were quite challenging to get through, especially since I hadn't read the earlier books in the series. It took some time to get familiar with the characters and understand their dynamics, which made the beginning feel a little overwhelming.
However, once the story found its rhythm, I really began to enjoy it. The mystery and the paranormal elements were particularly engaging and added an intriguing layer to the plot that kept me invested.
Morgan stood out as a compelling main character. Her back and forth between her two love interests added tension and emotional depth and her determination and personal growth throughout the story made her someone easy to root for.
Overall, this book has a cozy, feel good vibe - it almost reads like a Hallmark movie, making it perfect for the autumn/Christmas season. Despite a slow start, it turned into an enjoyable and atmospheric read.
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
However, once the story found its rhythm, I really began to enjoy it. The mystery and the paranormal elements were particularly engaging and added an intriguing layer to the plot that kept me invested.
Morgan stood out as a compelling main character. Her back and forth between her two love interests added tension and emotional depth and her determination and personal growth throughout the story made her someone easy to root for.
Overall, this book has a cozy, feel good vibe - it almost reads like a Hallmark movie, making it perfect for the autumn/Christmas season. Despite a slow start, it turned into an enjoyable and atmospheric read.
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 12, 2026
Intriguing mystery that transcends time with a heart-warming romance woven throughout.
Having grown up in a small town, I was pleasantly surprised when this story began in Rome. I love Rome and how the author weaves this into the story.
The characters, thoroughly enjoyable and believable, draw the reader into this heart-warming story, with a mystery that only the protagonist Morgan can solve. Paranormal clues lead her into a past that she can’t remember, until all is revealed in the dramatic conclusion.
In the meantime, Morgan’s heart leads her home to a love she never expected. This combination of mystery, romance, and intrigue makes for a fun, engrossing read you won’t want to miss.
Having grown up in a small town, I was pleasantly surprised when this story began in Rome. I love Rome and how the author weaves this into the story.
The characters, thoroughly enjoyable and believable, draw the reader into this heart-warming story, with a mystery that only the protagonist Morgan can solve. Paranormal clues lead her into a past that she can’t remember, until all is revealed in the dramatic conclusion.
In the meantime, Morgan’s heart leads her home to a love she never expected. This combination of mystery, romance, and intrigue makes for a fun, engrossing read you won’t want to miss.
February 26, 2026
I really enjoyed this story! It took me a little while to settle into the author’s writing style, but once I found my rhythm with it, I couldn’t put the book down. I loved the paranormal elements woven throughout the story, and the dynamic between the two love interests kept things engaging. Watching Morgan ultimately follow her heart and choose the path meant for her was especially satisfying.
It was also a fun bonus that the author is from my hometown and that the story is set in and around Pittsburgh—that made it feel even more special. I’m definitely looking forward to reading the rest of the series and adding the other books to my TBR!
It was also a fun bonus that the author is from my hometown and that the story is set in and around Pittsburgh—that made it feel even more special. I’m definitely looking forward to reading the rest of the series and adding the other books to my TBR!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Ashes and Other Inheritances is a page-turning story that invites you on an enchanting mystery adventure. Teeming with culture, history, and a spiritual crossroads, the author crafts a sensory-rich atmosphere that deeply immerses you with each page.
Morgan’s journey not only guides her toward the correct path for her life but simultaneously unravels hidden truths that have remained buried in her quaint town. Her determination and growth make her a character you can’t help but root for, and with romantic undertones and a backstory that tugs at your heartstrings, you won’t be able to put this book down until you’re finished.
Morgan’s journey not only guides her toward the correct path for her life but simultaneously unravels hidden truths that have remained buried in her quaint town. Her determination and growth make her a character you can’t help but root for, and with romantic undertones and a backstory that tugs at your heartstrings, you won’t be able to put this book down until you’re finished.
Review of advance copy
Although this is Book 4 in a series, it was my first one to read by this author. And it's not what I expected exactly from the description, but it was a fun mystery nonetheless. The book blends an interesting historical mystery with a modern-day second chance romance. Fun characters and an interesting premise made for an engaging story, but the paranormal aspects of the story were oddly circular and left me wondering: is it possible to haunt yourself..?
Many thanks to BookSirens for an ARC in exchange for my honest assessment of this work.
Many thanks to BookSirens for an ARC in exchange for my honest assessment of this work.
Currently Reading
March 12, 2026I have loved every story in the Soul Sisterhood series, but Ashes and Other Inheritances takes the cake. Cori has such a gift for storytelling, and I love how seamlessly she intertwines mystery, intrigue, and romance. Her details are vivid, her characters unforgettable, and the story is an absolute joy to read. This book is fun, poignant, and kept me up far too late - I simply couldn’t stop turning the pages!
March 12, 2026
This is probably my favorite of Cori Wamsley's books, which is saying a lot! I love the mystery aspect and the connection between past and present. It really had me guessing how everything would tie together, and I was not disappointed. The main character, Morgan, felt relatable and realistic, and I especially loved her backstory. Highly recommend this one!
March 15, 2026
I really enjoyed this story! I liked the paranormal aspect of this with Mattie and Morgan, and the dual timeline. It’s cool this is based on a true story out of cannonsburg! This was such a sweet story and I loved how it all tied together in the end! Will be reading more from this author!
March 17, 2026
I loved how this book weaved a little mystery, paranormal, family drama and second chance romance all together. Unraveling clues along the way kept the plot moving at an enjoyable pace. Morgan’s self-discovery journey is believable and inspiring. This small-town cozy romance does not disappoint.
March 19, 2026
Ashes and Other Inheritances is a sweet, slightly spooky romance, as if Demi Moore, in the classic movie Ghost, meets Antiques Roadshow. The book is especially sure to please mystery-lovers and readers who appreciate a strong female protagonist, and anyone who laughs at science jokes. Five stars!
April 16, 2026
I enjoyed this well written book that has mystery, murder, adventure and romance. The characters were interesting and so were their careers and experiences.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews