From the Ashes

by Sierra Riley

"There's nothing for me here but bad memories." "I don't know why I even came back. It's too late to fix anything." Zac Kesson fled his closed-minded family and the tiny town where he grew up as soon as he was able. Now he's a club owner in the big city, finally living his own life, even if it's a lonely one. But when a forest fire devastates his hometown and puts his father in the hospital, he feels the pull toward home. The last thing he expects is to cross paths with his first love, Anton. The one who broke his heart. "We're not the same people we used to be." Anton McKinley, the town veterinarian, will do anything to save Charlestown's animal inhabitants after the fire. He'll take in any stray around. Even if the man who brings them in is his ex-boyfriend. He can't believe the nerve on Zac, showing up after all this time, even if he was rescuing a kitten in the process. Even worse, he can't believe the spark of attraction he still feels for his former lover, a simmering desire that never really went away. "Do I even deserve a second chance after what I did to you?" Fate has drawn Zac and Anton back together, for better or worse. They put aside their differences for the sake of the animals, or at least that's what they tell each other at first. But as Zac confronts his homophobic parents and the loss of his childhood home, he finds himself reaching for Anton, needing that comfort they once gave each other. While their ruined hometown slowly begins to rebuild, new beginnings are in the air. But is it too late for Zac and Anton? Are they just too different, or do they stand a chance at building something new on the ashes of the old? From the Ashes is a steamy, standalone gay romance novel with a HEA, adorable animals, and no cliffhangers.

Genres: M M Romance, Contemporary, Romance, Friends To Lovers, Second Chance

236 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 19, 2016

About the author

Sierra Riley was born and raised in a small town where she spent all her time reading under trees before she moved to the Bay area to pursue her own love story.

She writes the kinds of books she loves to read: rollercoaster rides with happily-ever-afters. She's rarely at a loss for ideas, and credits her wonderfully supportive friends with helping her stories actually make it onto the page, as well as her husband and kids for giving her the chance to follow her dreams.

When Sierra isn't busy writing, she enjoys knitting, traveling, listening to the Pet Shop Boys, or just curling up with her dogs and cats and devouring a good book.

Reviews

[Dia · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5 stars rounded to 4 stars

This was my first book by Sierra Riley and it was a very light read.

Anton is a beautiful vet. In possibly the worst week of his life he is taken by surprise by his ex-boyfriend and his first love who shows up at his veterinary clinic. After 14 years, Zac returns to Charlestown and he finds his childhood home turned to ashes by a big forest fire. But he rescues a kitten and can't believe his eyes when he discovers who is the new veterinarian.

To be honest I think the presentation of the book gives too much. I am sorry to say you don't get many surprises and that is the reason I was tempted to give it only 3 stars. Because I didn't really connect to the characters in the first half of the book. I was still searching for signs they still love each other. I was dying for their first encounter, their first glances after so many years.

The second half of the book gave me the hot scenes I was waiting for. The story felt realistic but somehow I felt both characters kind of immature and the story was a little too predictible for me. Maybe it wasn't my cup of tea. I shall try other books written by this author.

ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review

[Denise H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

*** Blue-eyed Anton, and brown eyed Zac were secret boyfriends in high school.
Anton had big plans, a scholarship, college, being a doctor.


Zac
wanted to take Anton and get far away from town and his Dad,
but Anton held back and couldn't leave.
Now at 35, Zac is coming home because the big wildfire

burned his folks home and half the town.

A stray cat named Larry, brings the two men together again.
Each has hard feelings over their separation; each
carrying a grudge all these years.
* Anton is now a Veterinarian, and Zac a semi-famous DJ and recording artist.
Larry
They are opposites in many ways, but their love is still there, on the surface.
Thrown together through circumstances of the fire, they become involved again.
Each man tells his side, they talk, they have sex, and their feelings are renewed.
We get two great characters, lots of animals and pets to make you go "awwww" !
Stella
* The story is pertinent to what people are experiencing with the many rampant wildfires in the western United States. The story is smoothly paced, simple and sweet, and easy going, very low key.
The epilogue was very nice.
ENJOY !
================
a free copy given for an honest review. Free on KU
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[Jodi Ciorciari-marinich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sierra's stories always catch my attention from the blurbs. Zac and Anton's story is another good one from her. It is a second chance story of teenage love. Zac left town when he turned 18 because of family drama. Anton stayed behind to follow his dreams. Zac comes home and sees Anton. They talk and fall in love all over again. They are older now and understand why they really couldnt have been together forever all those years ago. Time apart and maturity have made them understand what they want and how to keep it now. There is some drama but I felt it really took place prior to them meeting up again so this was just a sweet love story. I dont know how Sierra writes these stories so quickly but I am glad she does.
*ARC provided by Author in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Jodi from Alpha Book Club

[Sharon Hatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zac is knocked for a loop to hear that a wild fire has devastated his home town, the same town he fled and never looked back at 18. Worse, he heard about it on the news and then found out his estranged father was in the hospital. Being impulsive, and not planning well, he heads back and finds he has mixed feelings about the destruction and people he once knew. When he finds a black kitten close to where his childhood home once stood he is completely turned upside down to discovers the vet is his ex-boyfriend Anton, the one he blames for ruining his life and relationship with father. Though awkward at first, Anton and Zac rekindle what they once had before everything went hurtful and sour in the aftermath of being discovered together and the resulting rift in Zac and his father’s relationship. Despite being different in so many ways both men find they do not want to be apart, but can they make a life together work when Zac craves the big city life and hates the small town Anton loves so much? Superb story of second chances and how time can heal all wounds. I loved the characters, almost complete opposites yet perfect compliments, kind of like a ying yang. Both bring a lot of baggage but finally decide like the town they needed to burn the past and rise from the ashes staring over fresh.
**this book received in exchange for an honest review**

[Cadiva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good second chance romance

3.5* for this one. There's nothing new in this book, it's a typical second chance romance between two men who lost touch in their late teens when one needed to escape their hometown and the other stayed behind.

Their reconnection however was handled with deft skill and it was a believable and realistic acceptance for them both that the feelings they'd had 14 years ago had never fully gone away.

There's cuteness, animals including a bear cub in need of rescuing, some low level smouldering sex rather than hot and steamy and some nice world building.

I liked both Zac and Anton, they had individual voices and their reasons for making the choices they did were valid. Their HEA was also sweet and fit in completely with the romance.

[Bo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second Chance Perfection

M/M romances that are second chances between former boyfriends or casual hook-ups are risky without two essential ingredients: Sympathetic and believable MCs, and a plotline that is not seriously coincidental. This one hits both of those on the target and then some.

Zac and Anton are thrown into the situation because of a devastating forest fire which wipes out most of their childhood village. Though Zac escaped and became a DJ star in Vegas and around the world, Anton stayed behind to open a successful veterinary practice.

That neither of them know this about each other is understandable when we discover that Zac bailed out of Charlestown the day after his eighteenth birthday and basically cut his homophobic father and weak mother, and Anton, out of his life. That Zac and Anton were teenage lovers and were discovered by Zac's father is the reason given for Zac's disappearance.

But things are not always as they seem, and the real reason Zac left and Anton stayed is mostly a mystery until well toward the end of the book. In between there is a lovely, sweetly moving plot involving a black kitten, a lost beagle, a motor home, and a couple trying to reconnect without the risk of heartbreak.

There isn't a heck of a lot of sex in this book, but there's a wonderfully developed and very strong romance emblematic of the best of Sierra Riley's efforts. This one is a special, sweet and relatively swift read.

[Sheri (Tangled Up In Books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sierra Riley has quickly become one of those authors I can easily depend on and pick up her books without reading a blurb or anything. I just see her name and have to have the book.

I've been in a reading slump lately and From the Ashes was just the thing to help pull me out of it. I fell hard for Anton's sweet and caring nature and for Zac's sort of brooding, angsty and kind of angry one.

There's nothing I love more than a second chance at love and their story was no exception. It was intriguing learning their history and what pulled them apart in the first place. Then to watch them navigate their present and all the obstacles between them and happily ever after.

I always love when a main character is a veterinarian because that means one thing...animals! From Larry the cat (yep! Larry lol) to Sasha the bear cub there was plenty of entertainment of the 4 legged and furry variety.

There's not a lot I can think of to say at the moment since my slump stretches out towards reviews as well. But if like me you're a huge Sierra Riley fan, this one is not to be missed. It's heartwarming, steamy and everything else you're used to from her books with just a little bit more. Still haven't found a book of hers to top the Delicious series yet but I'd say this one came the closest yet!

[Pontiki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compared to some of sierra Riley's other books, this isn't as good. But, it's still pretty great. I liked the plot, and how much of the story was about a small town surviving a fire that takes their homes and livelihoods from them.

Anton, the vet, is a real sweet guy, and although I loved Zac as well, his work as a DJ didn't quite fit with the story.

What put this into a four star category for me was all the animals, a cute kitten, a list beagle, and even a bear. Warm and fuzzies, literally, in this book!

[melek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zac and anton had been togther back when they were younger but Zac left the hometown and left anton behide because anton stayed. Years later after there home town caught on fire zac is back. They cross paths when Zac finds a cat and take to an vet who turn out anton. These two rekindle there friendship and can they this time stay together or drift apart once again.

[Joseph · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 almost 4 stars. I really enjoyed this one. Both characters were likable, and seemed to go well together - low angst too. The only think I didn’t like was how they told the story of what happened all those years ago. I didn’t think it was that much of an upset - one left never to come back to town - but they did have phones then, right? But all in all, it worked.

[Staphysagria · Rating 5 out of 5]

great story, loveable Guys, but the Secret Stars are a Kitten and a Beagle.

[Barbara Ingram · Rating 4 out of 5]

****4 Larry and Sasha Stars****

Larry and Sasha? Isn't this a story about Zac and Anton? Why yes it is! You need to read this fun, sexy second chances story to find out who Larry and Sasha are, and what role they played in bringing Zac and Anton together in the midst of a crisis in their hometown! Sierra never misses and she definitely hit a home run with From the Ashes!

****ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review****

[Adiehardbearfan Da bears · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zac left home 14 years ago and moved to the city. He hated everything about Charlestown and never planned to return. Not until he saw on the news his hometown burned down from a forest fire. Returning home to check on his parents is bringing back a lot of pain and anger he knows he needs to deal with once and for all.

Anton was devastated after Zac left when he turned 18. He has stayed in Charlestown not venturing out to find life somewhere new. He loves his hometown. He's the town's vet and adored by everyone. The fire has caused a lot of damage and losing his beagle Stella has made him extremely sad.

Zac finds a kitten in the rumble by his burned to a crisp childhood home and decides to bring it to the vet. He's in for a surprise when he sees the vet is none other then his ex-boyfriend Anton. Anton is just as surprised as Zac but doesn't show it while examining the kitten Larry. They run into each other again when Anton is out looking for Stella and from there they venture into the wildest adventure of falling back in love. Who would have thought a bear cub who get them talking once again. Hmm. Lovely and entertaining story. There's tears and forgiveness that both men need and not just from one another.

I received a free advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest & unbiased review.

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

like a phoenix

The title of this book is so fitting for the story its just perfect, from the chard remains of an old relationship a new one can blossom with the same people now that they are older and wiser.
When Zac left his home town 18 years ago he had no plans on ever returning, but now that most of the town has been destroyed by fire and his dad in the hospital it seems like a good time to visit. Although he is not really sure why he is he hasn't spoken to his dad in years but he still speaks to his mom occasionally. While looking at the chard remains of his childhood home he finds a cat and quickly takes him to the vet and who he encounters there has him reeling. Anton, Zac's ex-boyfriend, the one who wouldn't come with him, the reason why he had to leave that small town is now the local vet. With all the drama of his dad not wanting to see him and all the feelings being back home brought Zac knew one thing for sure that no matter what happens he will have Anton back in his life and do what he must to make it work.

i received a free copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

[Cee Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

¸.•*¨)☆♡¸.•*´¨)☆♡¸.•*´¨)☆♡
♡☆(¸.•´Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes...

Years ago, Zac and Anton were inseparable, until a misunderstanding drove a chasm in their friendship. Zac, wanting out of small town America, left as soon as he turned eighteen. Anton, too afraid, held back and spent the coming years both hating and admiring Zac. As a legendary DJ and part owner of a club in Las Vegas, Zac had not even thought about returning home. That is, until a call had him dropping everything to be there for the family who had turned their backs on him.

Some surprises are just tests.

Coming face to face with his ex was just a trial, Anton thought. Why was Zac back in town, and why was he causing the Veterinarian major palpitation issues? Anton should have been angry, after all Zac had left him behind and now they both had different lives. Between the animals that bought them closer, to getting answers, Anton was keeping his heart safe behind class. After all, Zac was only here to deal with his parents and move on, right?

Anton was his safe place, his home.

Given the opportunity to get to know Anton again, Zac is trying to prevent a derailing. Struggling to rebuild relationships that's more 14 years to late, Zac is willing to humble himself and prove that he is serious with it all. Now all he needed was for Anton to take him seriously and everything would fall into place.

When tragedy happens, especially like the fires that brought the town together, this story held true to the author. It is always a pleasure when a sense of reality is mixed with art. We are stronger as a whole than we can ever be as an individual. I will always recommend Sierra Riley books because she writes real, from the heart, stories.



ARC provided by Sierra Riley in exchange for an honest review.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book blurb does a much better job of describing this book than I ever could........
*********************************************************************
3.5 rating rounded up to 4
***********************************************************************
We have two MC's: Anton and Zac; after a fourteen year absence due to falling out, who meet again when Zac comes back home to the blighted and much aligned small town due to the forest fire that ravaged the town; plus Zac's father is in the hospital. We find the animosity between the father and Zac is portrayed pretty good in my opinion and explained his absence from the family. However, I did not get any warm feelings from mom; she came across as aloof and uncaring. He runs into his first love; unaware he still lived in Charlestown and was the town veterinarian. This is an example of second chance at love. However, to me the book fell flat. Zac, a whiny ,selfish kid seemed immature with constant reference how much he hates the small town. Anton I did not feel anything for him. I found him caring and loving toward the animals: the bear cub, the kitten and his dog "Stella".(the animals were the best part of the book) This is a decent read; it is well written. I love the way Sierra writes, her sentence structure, verb usage and the imagination in the world building of Zac and Anton. I would recommend this to anyone wanting a sweet read with little angst or drama.

*************************************************************
I received an advance copy from the author for an unbiased and honest review.

[Alexis Woods · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was provided free by the author in return for an honest review.

3 stars. (Prologue skipped)

Nothing over the top or bad about Ms. Riley's latest book. A good solid read, not overly predictable, though there were a few of those "of course" type moments. This is a simple, friends to lovers romance about rekindling the flames of long lost love.

Zac returns home after a forest fire has ravaged his hometown. After finding a kitten in the wreckage, he encounters his ex boyfriend who happens to be the town’s veterinarian.

Anton lives and works in the small town he grew up in, caring for the wild animals and pets. Dealing with the ex he hasn't seen in fourteen years wasn't something he wanted to add to his pile of stress. But first loves only happen once...

We see a lot of Zac's background and dealings with his family while we only get an overview from Anton's. There were some teaser bits I would have liked to see explained better on Anton's side, but I never got them. Zac's struggle with his dad was fairly well portrayed, but the underlying reason felt forced upon explanation.

While some of Ms. Riley's books are heavy on the erotic, this one is pleasantly tame. A few intimate scenes that happen naturally in the course of the story. The epilogue, while sweet, wasn't needed. The book could have ended on a nice HFN ending, and I would have been happy.

[Isabella ~Mikku-chan~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

*~~*ARC kindly provided by the author to me in exchange for an honest review *~~*

The blurb sounded really good and I expected the usual good entertainment. And I got it.
The title is perfectly fitting, it's all about second chances - in more than one way in the book.
Not even between Zac and Anton, also between Zac and his family and for the whole community/city where Anton lives.

I liked how natural flowing this book was. It was with a bit drama but not too much, the reason for Zac leaving the town was as understandable as Anton's grief. Also both guys have all the right to be angry about each other.

The sexual chemistry is - and was never fading - a constant component in the book.
It was burried - fitting to the title - and now is rising from the ashes ;)
I was also very touched by the reunion of Zac with his family... it shows nothing is perfect and a steady process. And very understandable and without too dramatical fuss.

I liked this book very much and it contains all I really like: second chances, character developments and reasonable but sometimes emotional fueled behaviour. But without too much cheesiness. XD

5 out of 5 stars. :) Again I can say: highly recommended. :)

[Lisa1269 · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I think, regardless of what happened, I ended up right where I was supposed to…”
I enjoyed this sweet second-chance story that reunites Zac and Anton after years apart from each other. When Zac returns to the town he grew up in after his estranged father is hospitalized when a devastating wildfire destroys his family home, the biggest surprise waiting for him takes the form of his ex, Anton. Even though doesn’t take long for the chemistry to reignite between them, I loved that they didn’t immediately fall back into each other’s arms and forget about all the rest of the issues confronting them. I also loved that they recognized that while the attraction between them may stem back to their youth, it’s the adult men they have grown into that stand a chance of making this relationship work. While this wasn’t my favourite offering by Sierra Riley, it was easy for me to get absorbed by this story of two men trying to rebuild something beautiful from what had been damaged.
Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book free for a honest review.

3.5 * rounded up to 4.

This was one of the sweet romance books that this author is really good at. There isn't any pro b elms, no angst, no big dramas. It's a old boyfriends reunited many years later.
Zac moves away as soon as he can from his hometown. Anton stays and doesn't go with him. Some eighteen years later Zac comes back to his hometown due to a wild fire and his father's failing health.
The Mcs meet again through animal related issues and they form a relationship again.
There are a few stumbles along the way but they get a HFN ending.
The book is well written, the sex scenes are there but not as hot as some of the other books written by this author. The storyline is believable, well written and flows. The story is slightly predictable but it's a sweet romance.,

[blub · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a particularly satisfying read for me this time around. Anton didn't exactly come off as a strong character and Zac was really immature. He was written in a pretty bad light with how he showed his distaste/disdain for his hometown. He was written as the type of character who was expressive with his feelings and so put everyone else down when he didn't like something.

I remember thinking while I was reading that I hoped the two would split up/not bother with each other and just be happier apart than together with how the two of them were acting. I was kind of annoyed with them. I didn't really care for Zac's situation and how he felt sorry for himself and his selfishness. The saving grace for me was the focus on the animals that Anton came in contact with.

An ARC was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.

[CARLA · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was another great book by Sierra Riley. I can honestly say that I have enjoyed ever book from her that I have read so far. This story was very well written. It is not a steamy erotic read, but it’s definitely emotional. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I love how believable this particular story was. Zac and Anton were together as teens but things didn’t work out so well. Zac left his little hometown at just 18 years old. He didn’t really have a relationship with his parents so why go back. Years later, after the town faces near devastation, he decides to return home. Fate steps in and brings Zac and Anton back into each other’s lives. You never forget your first love. Can they get back what they lost?

[Eloise Hodgson · Rating 4 out of 5]

• ARC received in exchanged for an honest review •

An enjoyable read of a past romance rekindled... Anton and Zac go their separate ways as teenagers but the breakup wasn't a friendly one but they never really got over their relationship.

When a devastating forest fire happens Zac is drawn back to his hometown to help his parents and has an unexpected encounter with his ex-boyfriend Anton when he finds Larry a kitten stuck in some burnt out debris...Anton also happens to be the town vet.

Both Zac and Anton's feeling start to surface the longer they are around each other and with the help of a lost bear cub, a missing Beagle, Larry the kitten and an RV these men finally deal with the past and let their relationship ignite once again.

[ButtonsMom2003 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good book from Sierra Riley

Second chance stories are among my favorite romance tropes and this one didn’t disappoint me at all. Zac and Anton were friends, then boyfriends and more, when they were young. A traumatic event tore them apart and now another traumatic event has brought them back together.

The heat level in this story is fairly mild for an M/M book but I loved everything about it. The chemistry between Zac and Anton was palpable and the way their reunion story unfolded kept me glued to my ereader until I finished it.

If you love second chance stories I think you will enjoy reading this one.

I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.

[Mel · Rating 3 out of 5]

From the Ashes is a second chance romance between two men who were teen age lovers. The characters are not happy to see each other because of old pains and old loves. The true portrayal of feelings made this book better. Zac extremely selfish and over indulgent of himself has extreme growth in this book. Anton is a giving and warm man who is compelled to make things better. In essence Zac's complete opposite. Their story is a bit easier than I would have liked considering the circumstances or maybe I am being too hard on the selfish Zac. The book was very well written and quite entertaining. My favorite thing though will be the growth that Zac has by the end. It makes it so much the better. I would recommend this to all romantics out there who enjoy a good second chance romance.

[Terri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Skip the last epilogue.

This was an okay rekindled romance story until the end, which is happy, but didn't stop. The last chapter, the 6 months later one, isn't necessary. The last scene is gooey with excess verbiage and then? Zac actually says in thoughts at us, the readers, that no words were needed. I couldn't agree more. I'm guessing there was a necessary word count and a deadline, but to ruin the story with it is a crime. The word count would've been better done with an escaped kitten scene.

I find it hard to believe that the same wrote Delicious, one of the best m/m romances I've had the pleasure of reading. I hope this one's way older. IMHO, go read Delicious! :)

[Antoinette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I didn't like "From the Ashes" as much as I did the last few Sierra Riley books it was still a quick enjoyable story. Zac was a big kid and seemed to mature more in the 9-10 months afternhe went back home than all the years he was gone. Anton seemed like what you would call an old soul. I liked that when they found each other again it was like no time had elapsed. There wasn't a lot of angst and the little there was was do more to miscommunication than anything else. Like I said not as good as her other books but still worth 3.8 stars. I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Ruth Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a brilliant book if you like an easy carefree read that pulls you in. Zac and Anton are the main characters and are wonderfully written. The secondary characters are also written well. This is a story of misunderstanding and a young heart remembering things the way only a young heart can. It is a really uplifting read that leaves you with a smile on your face. I would strongly recommend you give it a read

[Christina Bowling · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cute book that I enjoyed reading, and couldn't put down until I'd finished. Zac and Anton were both adorable, and a perfect couple for each other, and I loved how they shared the same caring, gentle feelings for animals. It was fun and cute watching them reconnect, while saving animals in need, and I really enjoyed following their story. I was really happy to see them get their much deserved HEA.

[Suzanne Ellis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I usually really love Sierra Riley's books and I didnt NOT love this one. It just seemed to be a tad slow in the build up and there didnt seem to be alot of chemistry running between Zac and Anton. I also think that the friction between Zac and his father could have gotten a bit more attention. But all in all, it was still a Sierra Riley book and because of that, was worth reading.

I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.