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From the Wreckage #5
Into the Fire
An emotional story that proves even the most damaged of people can find their happily ever after.
At fifteen, an accident turned my world upside down. Scarred in every way possible, I shut down, finding comfort by self-inflicting pain.
I’ve grown accustomed to the truths of my life, but I’m tired.
Tired of this reality...
Tired of the need...
Of the pain...
I’m weary of being this person...
Of being alone...
Though, I’m more afraid of letting someone in.
It’s been five years.
Can I return home and face my fears? Overcome the pain?
It’s time to find out.
For too long, the story of my life has been one of horror.
I want my fairy tale.
I want my prince, my happily ever after.
The question is, does it want me?
Into The Fire is a spin-off standalone story in the From The Wreckage series. The From The Wreckage series is a Young Adult to New Adult series with one trilogy and multiple character spin-offs. Please see the reading order below:
Jules and West's trilogy
1. From the Wreckage
2. Out of Ruins
3. All that Remains
Spin-offs best read in order but CAN be read alone
4. West: A male POV novel of From The Wreckage
5. Into the Fire: Dani's story
6. After the Fall: Austin's story
7. Until We Crash: Jess and Carter's story
260 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 1, 2020
60 people are currently reading
161 people want to read
About the author
Michele G. Miller
43 books482 followersMichele loves words. Funny words, inspiring words, dirty words, sad words. All the words.
Use them wisely and kindly. Spin stories with them, mend fences with them, heal with them. Words are powerful. Words are forever.
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Sign up for my newsletter here: http://bit.ly/MGMNews
Also one half of the duo: Mindy Michele
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/7...
Use them wisely and kindly. Spin stories with them, mend fences with them, heal with them. Words are powerful. Words are forever.
AMAZON: http://bit.ly/MGM-AmzUS
FACEBOOK: http://on.fb.me/XPUMc1
PINTEREST: http://pinterest.com/michelegmillerau...
IG: https://www.instagram.com/authormiche...
FB READER GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chele...
Sign up for my newsletter here: http://bit.ly/MGMNews
Also one half of the duo: Mindy Michele
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/7...
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
December 8, 2015
"I'm moving forward, but I'm not living. I'm pretending. How do you know if you're dead or alive? I wouldn't know, I feel dead even as I live and breathe."
When I heard Michele was writing Danica's story, I was excited but scared because the subject matter was dark. I went in knowing it would take an emotional toll on me. It was heartbreaking and soul crushing, but most importantly, it moved me.
After suffering tragic loss and recovering from a terrible accident, Danica struggles with the emotional and physical pain. She pushes everyone she loves away because she can't process the grief... until one small cut changes everything.
"'You're a walking corpse,' I accuse the unrecognizable girl staring at me. Except you still bleed."
Cutting is the only thing that makes her feel alive. She knows it's wrong, but it becomes an addiction. When her family finds out, she is sent to an institute but even the professionals have a hard time getting through to her. Her family, friends- including her childhood best friend Jonah, tried to break through her walls, but they couldn't even make a dent. We all suffer alone, but we don't have to.
This book is so powerful because it sheds light on very real problems that many people suffer from. Sometimes it's the people we would never expect and sometimes it's the people we are closest to. This book teaches us to never give up, even when the situation seems impossible.
Once again, Michele has crafted a painfully beautiful story with characters that reach inside and pull on your heartstrings. This book will make you feel. It will devastate you but it will also heal you. So grab some tissues and prepare yourself for an emotional journey.
"You're my missing piece, Jonah. You're the one who completes my wonderful picture."
When I heard Michele was writing Danica's story, I was excited but scared because the subject matter was dark. I went in knowing it would take an emotional toll on me. It was heartbreaking and soul crushing, but most importantly, it moved me.
After suffering tragic loss and recovering from a terrible accident, Danica struggles with the emotional and physical pain. She pushes everyone she loves away because she can't process the grief... until one small cut changes everything.
"'You're a walking corpse,' I accuse the unrecognizable girl staring at me. Except you still bleed."
Cutting is the only thing that makes her feel alive. She knows it's wrong, but it becomes an addiction. When her family finds out, she is sent to an institute but even the professionals have a hard time getting through to her. Her family, friends- including her childhood best friend Jonah, tried to break through her walls, but they couldn't even make a dent. We all suffer alone, but we don't have to.
This book is so powerful because it sheds light on very real problems that many people suffer from. Sometimes it's the people we would never expect and sometimes it's the people we are closest to. This book teaches us to never give up, even when the situation seems impossible.
Once again, Michele has crafted a painfully beautiful story with characters that reach inside and pull on your heartstrings. This book will make you feel. It will devastate you but it will also heal you. So grab some tissues and prepare yourself for an emotional journey.
"You're my missing piece, Jonah. You're the one who completes my wonderful picture."
June 25, 2015
I love all of Michele's books, but this one is definitely my favorite so far!
I laughed, I cried...
And cried...
And cried...
The subject matter is much darker in this book. Danica is a cutter, so the narrative is very intense. She's a deep, passionate person, and Michele definitely rose to the challenge that type of character demands. Rose to it, and then flew above and beyond.
"I'm trapped in this body, something within is arguing, pushing at me to snap out of it, but the rest of me moves forward, as though the voice is insignificant. For a while, I sit examining the glass in the moonlight. The edge that snapped and broke away is jagged, slanted and imperfect. Like me."
This is some of her best writing to date. The prose is deep and meaningful, even lyrical at times. And the imagery is powerful. There were many times I had to stop and stare at the wall to fully process what I'd just read. I got goosebumps multiple times... in between all the crying...
Simply put- this book blew me away. And it's not all doom and gloom. The story is ultimately about someone broken slowly finding the pieces to put herself back together. It's a story about hope. As Dani says:
"I’m a million miles away from being perfect, but I’m a thousand steps closer today than I was yesterday. And tomorrow I’ll be closer still."
I laughed, I cried...
And cried...
And cried...
The subject matter is much darker in this book. Danica is a cutter, so the narrative is very intense. She's a deep, passionate person, and Michele definitely rose to the challenge that type of character demands. Rose to it, and then flew above and beyond.
"I'm trapped in this body, something within is arguing, pushing at me to snap out of it, but the rest of me moves forward, as though the voice is insignificant. For a while, I sit examining the glass in the moonlight. The edge that snapped and broke away is jagged, slanted and imperfect. Like me."
This is some of her best writing to date. The prose is deep and meaningful, even lyrical at times. And the imagery is powerful. There were many times I had to stop and stare at the wall to fully process what I'd just read. I got goosebumps multiple times... in between all the crying...
Simply put- this book blew me away. And it's not all doom and gloom. The story is ultimately about someone broken slowly finding the pieces to put herself back together. It's a story about hope. As Dani says:
"I’m a million miles away from being perfect, but I’m a thousand steps closer today than I was yesterday. And tomorrow I’ll be closer still."
April 3, 2015
I have been a huge fan of Michele's for quite some time. She has this ability to tackle any genre and really put her own spin on it. Her words capture you and her stories are dripping with emotion, reality, and honesty. "Into The Fire" is no exception, in fact it stands out above the rest. Michele took her hand at something new and a little darker and has been wholly successful. She tackles the subjects of depression, loss, and self harm without getting too heavy, but still manages to convey the reality of the emotions Danica is experiencing. I loved this story and found myself getting attached to the various characters throughout Dani's timeline. Take a chance on this book and see Miller's poetry dance across the page.
**Disclaimer: I helped edit this book.
**Disclaimer: I helped edit this book.
April 23, 2015
~Joanna, 5 stars:
Very few novels leave me speechless. This is the exception. Into The Fire literally broke me. It is one of the most intensely captivating stories, I've ever had the pleasure of reading.
Michele G. Miller is a literary genius. She compels us from the first line, intriguing us and tugging on our heart strings.
Danica hasn't been dealt an easy hand in life. Surrounded by tragedy, she finds an escapism only she understands - self infliction. Through Dani's eyes we embark on a journey of loss, heartache, depression and ultimately forgiveness.
This story is absolutely phenomenal. Michele, you truly are amazing & I eagerly await your next masterpiece!!!
Very few novels leave me speechless. This is the exception. Into The Fire literally broke me. It is one of the most intensely captivating stories, I've ever had the pleasure of reading.
Michele G. Miller is a literary genius. She compels us from the first line, intriguing us and tugging on our heart strings.
Danica hasn't been dealt an easy hand in life. Surrounded by tragedy, she finds an escapism only she understands - self infliction. Through Dani's eyes we embark on a journey of loss, heartache, depression and ultimately forgiveness.
This story is absolutely phenomenal. Michele, you truly are amazing & I eagerly await your next masterpiece!!!
Want to Read
December 14, 2014I cannot wait! No pressure Michele!!
December 19, 2015
*** I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review also posted here:
This book follows a heart breaking story of a young girl named Danica Reese Evans who experiences a great tragedy and lost both of her parents in a car accident. A car accident driven by Danica herself leads to a terrifying nightmare.
It explores the dark nature of depression and loss. It was so raw and so brutally honest. It vividly describes how the young girl struggle and cope up with grief and isolation. It explores a very dark topic yet the author was able to weave the story into such a beautiful prose.
Every chapter starts with “Today’s Reality.” It was about Danica’s perception of reality more like a journal entry which was one of the reasons I liked about this book. She unapologetically narrated the reality that changed who she was.
Jonah Hall and Danica Evans were childhood friends. Their parents were best friends before they were born. This is not another “bestfriends-fall-in-love-with-each-other-after-years-of-friendship.” This one is more about denying their feelings they didn’t even know it existed and continually falling for someone else until they realized that there can only be one.
The descriptions of the narrator as well as the unambiguous account of Danica’s bereavement were definitely heartbreaking. Her form of escapism was through self-infliction. She finds solace & pleasure in cutting herself.
And then that part, a year later, where she panicked because she can no longer remember the voice of her father, that moment really strike me as the most painful one. She was on the verge of breaking down because she kept on asking herself how could she forget the voice of her loving father she’d been with for 15 fleeting years.
THE DOWNSIDE
I couldn’t quite believe it when Danica realized that there’s still hope and she’d been living in the dark for quite too long ONLY after contacting a total stranger named Luke who was also involved in the car accident a year ago. Jonah Hall had been with her during her grieving moments and all she ever did was turn her back to him and push him away. Jonah Hall who had been her best friend before they could even learn to walk and here comes a stranger talking to her on the phone and she automatically had the guts to say thank you?!
Are you serious?
I was sympathetic for her in the first quarter of the book and suddenly there she was exchanging selfies with the handsome stranger? What the hell?
I was starting to like the story between Dani and Jonah Hall even if they had less interaction and reciprocity in the book. And then Luke Claborn entered the story, and all of a sudden the insta-love ruined it for me. I couldn’t even fathom the romance because they fell in love in a jiffy and it was too cheesy for me.
She was too concerned with the guilt of this guy and all the repercussions of the accident but she could care less with the all the suffering of the rest of the family: her grandparents who wanted her to get well; Jonas’s parents who also lost their best friends and were struggling for seeing her the way she was and lastly, Jonas who was also in deep pain trying to get her back.
I was really patient with Danica for at least half the book but after saying those two short words to Mr. & Mrs. Hall for checking up on her, I became so frustrated with her character. They asked if there’s anything they can do and she answered right ahead and said: “Back off!” to Jonas’s parents who were so worried about her current condition.
Did I hear it correctly? She even managed to say got it? God Danica! Have some manners will you? It seemed to me that her behavior was no longer due to loss, anger or guilt. It was pure stubbornness! It’s perfectly okay to get angry and to grieve over a loss, but it doesn’t give us any right to be cruel to others, especially to those people who care for you.
OVERALL
BOOK COVER: *4/5
PLOT: *2/5
CHARACTERS: *3/5
WRITING STYLE: *4/5
ENDING/DENOUEMENT: *5/5
In the end, I came to a sudden realization that Danica Evans’ behavior was both a consequence of the situation and of her choices. She was acting out based on the situation she experienced (in the case the car accident), and not because of her character. She was 15 when she lost her parents in a split of a second. She was a loving daughter before, a good singer, and a cheerful best friend. But everything changed because of the accident; from then on, she chose to remain in the dark, to swallow the guilt and become a one broken soul. For her, cutting herself would be a way to lessen the guilt. Self-infliction became a form of atonement. She denied herself of good things to embrace self-condemnation and confinement.
At first, I don’t understand the significance of the title but near the end the author explained it symbolically. Fire is a metaphor for love. Fire is beautiful, powerful and scary. How the fire which was once the cause of your pain could also become your strength.
If there’s one thing that will keep me away from forgetting this book, it was the writing style. The author’s writing was compelling and afflictive. I liked all the lines written on this story. Although the climax was no extraordinary, the protagonist’s stages of coping over the loss were poignant and devastating- the denial, the anger, the depression and the bargaining. I really liked how the author ends the story leaving the readers with a beautiful metaphor that is almost lyrical.
*** Thank you so much Red Coat PR for providing me a copy of Into The Fire.
Review also posted here:
This book follows a heart breaking story of a young girl named Danica Reese Evans who experiences a great tragedy and lost both of her parents in a car accident. A car accident driven by Danica herself leads to a terrifying nightmare.
“There is nothing left to break in me. My heart is already dead, my soul is gone.”
It explores the dark nature of depression and loss. It was so raw and so brutally honest. It vividly describes how the young girl struggle and cope up with grief and isolation. It explores a very dark topic yet the author was able to weave the story into such a beautiful prose.
Every chapter starts with “Today’s Reality.” It was about Danica’s perception of reality more like a journal entry which was one of the reasons I liked about this book. She unapologetically narrated the reality that changed who she was.
“It takes me to where I long to be. To where nothing else matter.”
Jonah Hall and Danica Evans were childhood friends. Their parents were best friends before they were born. This is not another “bestfriends-fall-in-love-with-each-other-after-years-of-friendship.” This one is more about denying their feelings they didn’t even know it existed and continually falling for someone else until they realized that there can only be one.
The descriptions of the narrator as well as the unambiguous account of Danica’s bereavement were definitely heartbreaking. Her form of escapism was through self-infliction. She finds solace & pleasure in cutting herself.
“It’s not every day that I feel the need to press the cold of tip of the blade into my skin and watch my blood bubble up. It’s only the darkest days. The days when I sit for hours staring at the sky, the ceiling, the dent in the sheetrock of my wall. The days when nothing anyone says or does will pull me from the dark abyss of my own mind. Those are the days when I wait until the house is quiet, before finding the absolution at the tip of the blade and the slice of my skin.”
And then that part, a year later, where she panicked because she can no longer remember the voice of her father, that moment really strike me as the most painful one. She was on the verge of breaking down because she kept on asking herself how could she forget the voice of her loving father she’d been with for 15 fleeting years.
“This time the tears are not for my parents or my injuries. This time they’re for me, and the girl I lost.”
THE DOWNSIDE
I couldn’t quite believe it when Danica realized that there’s still hope and she’d been living in the dark for quite too long ONLY after contacting a total stranger named Luke who was also involved in the car accident a year ago. Jonah Hall had been with her during her grieving moments and all she ever did was turn her back to him and push him away. Jonah Hall who had been her best friend before they could even learn to walk and here comes a stranger talking to her on the phone and she automatically had the guts to say thank you?!
“And like that, Luke Claborn secures himself a spot in my life.”
Are you serious?
I was sympathetic for her in the first quarter of the book and suddenly there she was exchanging selfies with the handsome stranger? What the hell?
I was starting to like the story between Dani and Jonah Hall even if they had less interaction and reciprocity in the book. And then Luke Claborn entered the story, and all of a sudden the insta-love ruined it for me. I couldn’t even fathom the romance because they fell in love in a jiffy and it was too cheesy for me.
She was too concerned with the guilt of this guy and all the repercussions of the accident but she could care less with the all the suffering of the rest of the family: her grandparents who wanted her to get well; Jonas’s parents who also lost their best friends and were struggling for seeing her the way she was and lastly, Jonas who was also in deep pain trying to get her back.
I was really patient with Danica for at least half the book but after saying those two short words to Mr. & Mrs. Hall for checking up on her, I became so frustrated with her character. They asked if there’s anything they can do and she answered right ahead and said: “Back off!” to Jonas’s parents who were so worried about her current condition.
“My life, what happens to me, isn’t your problem. My grandparents and I will deal with it. Got it?”
Did I hear it correctly? She even managed to say got it? God Danica! Have some manners will you? It seemed to me that her behavior was no longer due to loss, anger or guilt. It was pure stubbornness! It’s perfectly okay to get angry and to grieve over a loss, but it doesn’t give us any right to be cruel to others, especially to those people who care for you.
OVERALL
BOOK COVER: *4/5
PLOT: *2/5
CHARACTERS: *3/5
WRITING STYLE: *4/5
ENDING/DENOUEMENT: *5/5
In the end, I came to a sudden realization that Danica Evans’ behavior was both a consequence of the situation and of her choices. She was acting out based on the situation she experienced (in the case the car accident), and not because of her character. She was 15 when she lost her parents in a split of a second. She was a loving daughter before, a good singer, and a cheerful best friend. But everything changed because of the accident; from then on, she chose to remain in the dark, to swallow the guilt and become a one broken soul. For her, cutting herself would be a way to lessen the guilt. Self-infliction became a form of atonement. She denied herself of good things to embrace self-condemnation and confinement.
At first, I don’t understand the significance of the title but near the end the author explained it symbolically. Fire is a metaphor for love. Fire is beautiful, powerful and scary. How the fire which was once the cause of your pain could also become your strength.
“It’s okay to fear power but admire the beauty.”
If there’s one thing that will keep me away from forgetting this book, it was the writing style. The author’s writing was compelling and afflictive. I liked all the lines written on this story. Although the climax was no extraordinary, the protagonist’s stages of coping over the loss were poignant and devastating- the denial, the anger, the depression and the bargaining. I really liked how the author ends the story leaving the readers with a beautiful metaphor that is almost lyrical.
“ ‘I love you’ makes one soar. ‘I hate you’ can tear out your heart. The ‘hello’ of a long awaited beloved’s voice may cause your stomach to dance."
*** Thank you so much Red Coat PR for providing me a copy of Into The Fire.
November 9, 2015
I was provided a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book follows 15-year-old Danica Evans who has a pretty idyllic life, with great parents, friends and just keeps getting better as her best friend Jonah wants to be her boyfriend. Everything is going great until one tragic night, after a party there is car accident which results in Danica's parents dying, what makes it more tragic is that she was driving and lived. After being in hospital for skin graft after skin graft and recuperating from the accident she decides to move to Texas with her grandparents without saying goodbye to any of her friends, Jonah or the Hall family (Her parents best friends).
Danica starts to suffer with depression and grief, she feels it's all her fault and does not deserve absolution. The only way to ease the pain is to leave everything at Grove Pointe that reminds her of her parents, so she cuts all contact. One day she is so unhappy and seeing a picture of her parents it gets too much and starts cutting herself for release, to make her feel alive, her punishment for living, but it soon becomes an addiction.
With rehabilitation clinics, finding love and trying to find herself and piece her life back together,Danica wonders if she will ever be herself again.
My thoughts:
I have never heard of Michele G Miller before, but this definitely won't be my last book by her that's for sure. She is truly an amazing author. This book was so emotionally charged, it was raw, poignant and an honest portrayal of depression and grief.
The first part of the book is told 5 years after the accident in 2018, then back to 2012 from the day the accident happens and her story of grief, rehab and so on and then the third and final part is her returning to 2018. Throughout the book there are sections which are written in italics and these are Danica reminiscing about happy events such as holidays with parents and friends.
The characters in this book were great and really well-developed, Jonah was such a caring young man and truly loved Danica.Luke is also another very thoughtful young man, I liked that these characters never tried to act any older than they were, they wasn't pretentious, they were just ordinary teens dealing with an awful situation.This isn't just a sad/depressing story there is love and it makes you feel all warm and fuzzy at times and can tug on the old heartstrings. It will probably make you cry and it will most likely make you smile and that's what a good book is all about.I really cannot recommend this book enough. It's only £2 on amazon go buy it and I bet you will like it.
I was not keen on the cover though that's my only complaint. This is a standalone book but I believe that the characters West and Jules have their own entire story called 'From the Wreckage'.
I rated this book 5 out 5 stars
This book follows 15-year-old Danica Evans who has a pretty idyllic life, with great parents, friends and just keeps getting better as her best friend Jonah wants to be her boyfriend. Everything is going great until one tragic night, after a party there is car accident which results in Danica's parents dying, what makes it more tragic is that she was driving and lived. After being in hospital for skin graft after skin graft and recuperating from the accident she decides to move to Texas with her grandparents without saying goodbye to any of her friends, Jonah or the Hall family (Her parents best friends).
Danica starts to suffer with depression and grief, she feels it's all her fault and does not deserve absolution. The only way to ease the pain is to leave everything at Grove Pointe that reminds her of her parents, so she cuts all contact. One day she is so unhappy and seeing a picture of her parents it gets too much and starts cutting herself for release, to make her feel alive, her punishment for living, but it soon becomes an addiction.
With rehabilitation clinics, finding love and trying to find herself and piece her life back together,Danica wonders if she will ever be herself again.
My thoughts:
I have never heard of Michele G Miller before, but this definitely won't be my last book by her that's for sure. She is truly an amazing author. This book was so emotionally charged, it was raw, poignant and an honest portrayal of depression and grief.
The first part of the book is told 5 years after the accident in 2018, then back to 2012 from the day the accident happens and her story of grief, rehab and so on and then the third and final part is her returning to 2018. Throughout the book there are sections which are written in italics and these are Danica reminiscing about happy events such as holidays with parents and friends.
The characters in this book were great and really well-developed, Jonah was such a caring young man and truly loved Danica.Luke is also another very thoughtful young man, I liked that these characters never tried to act any older than they were, they wasn't pretentious, they were just ordinary teens dealing with an awful situation.This isn't just a sad/depressing story there is love and it makes you feel all warm and fuzzy at times and can tug on the old heartstrings. It will probably make you cry and it will most likely make you smile and that's what a good book is all about.I really cannot recommend this book enough. It's only £2 on amazon go buy it and I bet you will like it.
I was not keen on the cover though that's my only complaint. This is a standalone book but I believe that the characters West and Jules have their own entire story called 'From the Wreckage'.
I rated this book 5 out 5 stars
April 24, 2015
It’s not every day that I feel the need to press the cold of tip of the blade into my skin and watch my blood bubble up. It’s only the darkest days. The days when I sit for hours staring at the sky, the ceiling, the dent in the sheetrock of my wall. The days when nothing anyone says or does will pull me from the dark abyss of my own mind. Those are the days when I wait until the house is quiet, before finding the absolution at the tip of the blade and the slice of my skin.
**
I usually blurb my first part of a review. Just a little summary of what I think the book is about. But this is one of those books you just have to read to feel, to know, to understand. It took about halfway through getting to know Dani and her past. The last half is what she does with the pieces of her past. Does she pick them up and move on? Or will she allow her past to slowly and painfully kill her?
Back when we first met Dani in the Wreckage series, there was a split second I didn’t trust her. Soon that moment blew over and I cared for this girl. It wasn’t to the extent I cared for Jules and West, but then again, that wasn’t her story. When I finally got to read this book, her story, I became her biggest fan. We finally see her past and now know what makes her tick…or should I say what makes her a ticking time bomb.
I got to a certain point of the book, not even done with it yet, and determined it was one of my favorites of this year already. How can that be? I haven’t even finished it yet. The author could very well take it and wreck the ending. But she didn’t. And I will say that the last half, the author would shred my emotions and then beautifully redeem herself a few pages later. You’d think that this would only happen once, maybe twice. You’d think that huh? But no. The author took something so raw and painful and had us go through it several times. Why? Because that is the way life is. It is not something that resolves itself the next morning. And I applaud this author for taking such a serious topic and not sugar coating it. I don’t have experience with Dani’s addiction, but I can only imagine everything that happens is the close to the real deal and a lot people get.
My heart is still recuperating a couple days later after finishing this book. Yes, that good. So, I absolutely, 100 % recommend this story. Pick it up today and get at it. 5 Stars All The Way!
**
I usually blurb my first part of a review. Just a little summary of what I think the book is about. But this is one of those books you just have to read to feel, to know, to understand. It took about halfway through getting to know Dani and her past. The last half is what she does with the pieces of her past. Does she pick them up and move on? Or will she allow her past to slowly and painfully kill her?
Back when we first met Dani in the Wreckage series, there was a split second I didn’t trust her. Soon that moment blew over and I cared for this girl. It wasn’t to the extent I cared for Jules and West, but then again, that wasn’t her story. When I finally got to read this book, her story, I became her biggest fan. We finally see her past and now know what makes her tick…or should I say what makes her a ticking time bomb.
I got to a certain point of the book, not even done with it yet, and determined it was one of my favorites of this year already. How can that be? I haven’t even finished it yet. The author could very well take it and wreck the ending. But she didn’t. And I will say that the last half, the author would shred my emotions and then beautifully redeem herself a few pages later. You’d think that this would only happen once, maybe twice. You’d think that huh? But no. The author took something so raw and painful and had us go through it several times. Why? Because that is the way life is. It is not something that resolves itself the next morning. And I applaud this author for taking such a serious topic and not sugar coating it. I don’t have experience with Dani’s addiction, but I can only imagine everything that happens is the close to the real deal and a lot people get.
My heart is still recuperating a couple days later after finishing this book. Yes, that good. So, I absolutely, 100 % recommend this story. Pick it up today and get at it. 5 Stars All The Way!
January 27, 2016
4.5 stars*
Into the Fire (Wrecked, #1) was definitely a darker book compared to the books in the From the Wreckage series, but I loved it just the same. In fact, I had to order a paperback immediately following reading the eARC, just to have it in my collection.
Stories like Dani's aren't often told. Not just in YA, but in young adult *life*. Going through something traumatic and blaming yourself never goes well. Dani's reaction and therefore, way of coping with a traumatic experience is a stigma, something those who do it and are truly suffering try to hide; something those who don't understand speak of as if it's something that can be fixed with a discussion once or twice. Considering this, I appreciated Michele's insight into the mind of someone who didn't want to be in the place she was in and got to a point where she truly tried/wanted to move on. It's not always as easy as it sounds or appears to be, and the fact of the matter is that sometimes those scars are simply a physical manifestation of what a person is feeling inside.
Also: we're all human, and none of us ever make all of the right choices. Dani thought she was... she did what she needed to do at the time, but things didn't always end up right. Still, she learned from it. I loved that about her: her resilience (even when she probably thought she was far FROM resilient) and choice to keep trying.
My scars itch, my bravery wavers, my eyes water as my mouth twitches into a smile. I'm a full-blown mess and yet I'm perfectly happy with it all.
It takes a while for Dani to get to this point, but she does. And as the book concludes, you find yourself happy for a long lost friend who's gone through a tumultuous, dark time, and is finally back to feeling (and seeing) the light.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Into the Fire (Wrecked, #1) was definitely a darker book compared to the books in the From the Wreckage series, but I loved it just the same. In fact, I had to order a paperback immediately following reading the eARC, just to have it in my collection.
Stories like Dani's aren't often told. Not just in YA, but in young adult *life*. Going through something traumatic and blaming yourself never goes well. Dani's reaction and therefore, way of coping with a traumatic experience is a stigma, something those who do it and are truly suffering try to hide; something those who don't understand speak of as if it's something that can be fixed with a discussion once or twice. Considering this, I appreciated Michele's insight into the mind of someone who didn't want to be in the place she was in and got to a point where she truly tried/wanted to move on. It's not always as easy as it sounds or appears to be, and the fact of the matter is that sometimes those scars are simply a physical manifestation of what a person is feeling inside.
Also: we're all human, and none of us ever make all of the right choices. Dani thought she was... she did what she needed to do at the time, but things didn't always end up right. Still, she learned from it. I loved that about her: her resilience (even when she probably thought she was far FROM resilient) and choice to keep trying.
My scars itch, my bravery wavers, my eyes water as my mouth twitches into a smile. I'm a full-blown mess and yet I'm perfectly happy with it all.
It takes a while for Dani to get to this point, but she does. And as the book concludes, you find yourself happy for a long lost friend who's gone through a tumultuous, dark time, and is finally back to feeling (and seeing) the light.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 22, 2015
*** A huge THANK YOU to Ms. Miller for giving me a copy of this book!!!! :) ***
I honestly don't know how Ms. Miller does it, but once again she has managed to make me smile, cry, and laugh all within just a few chapters into the story. Dani's story immediately captured me from the moment I started reading, and the moments that I had to part with the story was pure torture.
There's just something so real about the writing and the characters, that really makes all the emotions jump out of the page. It was so heartbreaking watching Dani go through all the emotional and physical trauma. Watching her struggling to find herself again, and failing, and then trying again. But it wasn't just about Dani's struggles. This story also had a very nice blend of romance in the mix, and it wasn't the typical boy and girl falling in love. There was a lot of depth to it, and beyond just the romance, it was also about allowing someone, a person from her past, back into her life and trusting that they will be there for her.
This book was absolutely heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. Ms. Miller has captured Dani's voice perfectly! There wasn't one moment where I wanted to take a break from reading this story. It was a heart wrenching roller coaster of emotions, and I loved every single second of it. And the ending was just absolutely perfect! After everything Dani went through and faced, she definitely deserved the happy ending that she got. This is one amazing book and I definitely recommend that you read it!
I honestly don't know how Ms. Miller does it, but once again she has managed to make me smile, cry, and laugh all within just a few chapters into the story. Dani's story immediately captured me from the moment I started reading, and the moments that I had to part with the story was pure torture.
There's just something so real about the writing and the characters, that really makes all the emotions jump out of the page. It was so heartbreaking watching Dani go through all the emotional and physical trauma. Watching her struggling to find herself again, and failing, and then trying again. But it wasn't just about Dani's struggles. This story also had a very nice blend of romance in the mix, and it wasn't the typical boy and girl falling in love. There was a lot of depth to it, and beyond just the romance, it was also about allowing someone, a person from her past, back into her life and trusting that they will be there for her.
This book was absolutely heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. Ms. Miller has captured Dani's voice perfectly! There wasn't one moment where I wanted to take a break from reading this story. It was a heart wrenching roller coaster of emotions, and I loved every single second of it. And the ending was just absolutely perfect! After everything Dani went through and faced, she definitely deserved the happy ending that she got. This is one amazing book and I definitely recommend that you read it!
April 25, 2015
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
I can't remember the last time I cried so much reading a book. Dani's story is the sad, heartbreaking tale of a young girl who experiences a great tragedy at 15. Her journey plays out as the reader is taken back in time before the tragedy occurs and we are slowly supplied the pieces of the tale that cause Dani to become a shell of the person she used to be. Along the way, we see her deal with family, friends, and life as she slowly rediscovers who she is.
This book is so emotionally charged, each chapter gripped ahold of me and I felt the weight of Dani's pain. This book contains mature themes (non-sexual) that explore the dark nature of depression. Fear not, however, as her story does reach a happy ending.
Michele G. Miller is a true artist of her craft in every sense of the word. She is able to write in a manner that is engaging, heartfelt, and touches the human soul. This story really pulled me in and I was hanging on to every page: cheering along with Dani during her moments of happiness and crying with her in her moments of anguish. I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a story relating to human emotion and the path to healing after a loss.
I can't remember the last time I cried so much reading a book. Dani's story is the sad, heartbreaking tale of a young girl who experiences a great tragedy at 15. Her journey plays out as the reader is taken back in time before the tragedy occurs and we are slowly supplied the pieces of the tale that cause Dani to become a shell of the person she used to be. Along the way, we see her deal with family, friends, and life as she slowly rediscovers who she is.
This book is so emotionally charged, each chapter gripped ahold of me and I felt the weight of Dani's pain. This book contains mature themes (non-sexual) that explore the dark nature of depression. Fear not, however, as her story does reach a happy ending.
Michele G. Miller is a true artist of her craft in every sense of the word. She is able to write in a manner that is engaging, heartfelt, and touches the human soul. This story really pulled me in and I was hanging on to every page: cheering along with Dani during her moments of happiness and crying with her in her moments of anguish. I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a story relating to human emotion and the path to healing after a loss.
April 22, 2015
*I received an arc from the author in exchange for an honest review*
OMG I cried like a baby.. Dani's story was so heartbreaking. she is a remarkable character, to have to deal with everything that happened and still get her HEA, shows she is so much stronger then she realized.. I imagine anyone who goes through the same life events would break too.. I have no words to described Jonah.. I can't imagine how he felt watching his love fall apart and not be able to help. and Luke, where do I began.. his love for Dani is strong and he wants to save her but I think he realizes the only way to save her is to let go. Dani loves Luke but her heart belongs to Jonah. then Luke's gone and she falls again.. while Luke and Jonah both save her in their own way I think Lee was the true savior in this story.. he didn't judge and Dani wasnt pressured to be someone she wasn't ready to be. Lee understood what Dani was going through and was able to save her from ultimate destruction.. yes she has her hea with Jonah but without Lee I don't think she would have seen what was happening til it was too late.
this is a must read
OMG I cried like a baby.. Dani's story was so heartbreaking. she is a remarkable character, to have to deal with everything that happened and still get her HEA, shows she is so much stronger then she realized.. I imagine anyone who goes through the same life events would break too.. I have no words to described Jonah.. I can't imagine how he felt watching his love fall apart and not be able to help. and Luke, where do I began.. his love for Dani is strong and he wants to save her but I think he realizes the only way to save her is to let go. Dani loves Luke but her heart belongs to Jonah. then Luke's gone and she falls again.. while Luke and Jonah both save her in their own way I think Lee was the true savior in this story.. he didn't judge and Dani wasnt pressured to be someone she wasn't ready to be. Lee understood what Dani was going through and was able to save her from ultimate destruction.. yes she has her hea with Jonah but without Lee I don't think she would have seen what was happening til it was too late.
this is a must read
March 31, 2015
"Don't you get it? I don’t want sympathy. I don’t want understanding and forgiveness. I don't deserve it." These are the words written by author Michele Miller and the reason I got caught up in the story of Dani.
I have read all of Michele Miller's books and loved each one. "Into The Fire" however is so much more than a good story. The story is about a troubled girl who deals with her pain by cutting herself. Michele handles this sensitive issue with care while writing a story of how one person's pain affects not only her, but also the ones who love her.
I want to say I cried throughout the book, but sob would be more accurate. Michele's characters are people we all have in our lives. Heros, victims, friends who are like family and those that love us no matter what.
This book is a must read. Prepare for it to also be a must feel.
I have read all of Michele Miller's books and loved each one. "Into The Fire" however is so much more than a good story. The story is about a troubled girl who deals with her pain by cutting herself. Michele handles this sensitive issue with care while writing a story of how one person's pain affects not only her, but also the ones who love her.
I want to say I cried throughout the book, but sob would be more accurate. Michele's characters are people we all have in our lives. Heros, victims, friends who are like family and those that love us no matter what.
This book is a must read. Prepare for it to also be a must feel.
April 6, 2015
Well this was certainly worth waiting for. I was an avid fan of the From The Wreckage series and always wanted to find out what had happened to the supporting characters.
Dani helps West in the books so already I had a deep respect for her.
This story pulls many punches. it deals with self harming, depression and the importance of support. I think this is an important story and a character many can get behind to really understand.
As with many of Michelle G Miller's stories they have an element of fairytale in them so for all the hard hitting issues there is lightness too. The love story that follows all the way through melts your heart and I was rooting for one certain person the whole way through.
Loved this. A must.
Dani helps West in the books so already I had a deep respect for her.
This story pulls many punches. it deals with self harming, depression and the importance of support. I think this is an important story and a character many can get behind to really understand.
As with many of Michelle G Miller's stories they have an element of fairytale in them so for all the hard hitting issues there is lightness too. The love story that follows all the way through melts your heart and I was rooting for one certain person the whole way through.
Loved this. A must.
April 17, 2015
Amazing... yanks (bc tugs isn't enough) at your heart strings
There are so many things that I could say about this book, this story, this journey that shattered my heart and healed me in 5,182 kindle pages... I felt like I was on the most emotionally insane roller coaster ever and the worst part of it all was that I neglected my job for the majority of the day to finish this book. Big mistake! I snotted, ugly cried, and gave myself a case of the hiccups all at my desk. Michelle G. Miller does this to me, her stories are so real that I can taste them. I feel like I know the characters, their families, this lives and now their futures. She is tasteful and gritty at the same time and I can't get enough!!!
There are so many things that I could say about this book, this story, this journey that shattered my heart and healed me in 5,182 kindle pages... I felt like I was on the most emotionally insane roller coaster ever and the worst part of it all was that I neglected my job for the majority of the day to finish this book. Big mistake! I snotted, ugly cried, and gave myself a case of the hiccups all at my desk. Michelle G. Miller does this to me, her stories are so real that I can taste them. I feel like I know the characters, their families, this lives and now their futures. She is tasteful and gritty at the same time and I can't get enough!!!
April 1, 2015
Michele does it again
After blowing through the From the Wreckage series in 3 days, I couldn't wait to read Dani's story. And it didn't disappoint. I felt Dani's pain and heartache and joy through her journey. I'm a crybaby by nature and a box of tissue came in handy this time around as well. Michele did a wonderful job of sucking me into this world and making me feel as if her characters are my own loved ones. Not to mention how I was able to relate and understand the mindset of someone who struggles as Dani does. It was a very moving and excellent read.
If you loved Michele's other books, you'll love this one, too.
After blowing through the From the Wreckage series in 3 days, I couldn't wait to read Dani's story. And it didn't disappoint. I felt Dani's pain and heartache and joy through her journey. I'm a crybaby by nature and a box of tissue came in handy this time around as well. Michele did a wonderful job of sucking me into this world and making me feel as if her characters are my own loved ones. Not to mention how I was able to relate and understand the mindset of someone who struggles as Dani does. It was a very moving and excellent read.
If you loved Michele's other books, you'll love this one, too.
April 23, 2015
5 Fantastic Stars
Very few novels leave me speechless. This is the exception. Into The Fire literally broke me. It is one of the most intensely captivating stories, I've ever had the pleasure of reading.
Michele G. Miller is a literary genius. She compels us from the first line, intriguing us and tugging on our heart strings.
Danica hasn't been dealt an easy hand in life. Surrounded by tragedy, she finds an escapism only she understands - self infliction. Through Danis eyes we embark on a journey of loss, heartache, depression and ultimately forgiveness.
This story is absolutely phenomenal. Michele, you truly are amazing & I eagerly await your next masterpiece!!!
April 1, 2015
This was a beautiful, but sad story. I loved it so much. Michele tells beautiful stories and she tackled a dark topic beautifully and brilliantly. I also appreciate that she tells beautiful stories without overdoing it on profanity and raunchy scenes. I definitely recommend it! Get it now!
(My only reason for deducting a star was because I caught about a dozen errors in the book. Other than that I absolutely loved it and really my 4 stars is 4.5 stars with only a half a star deduction for the errors.)
(My only reason for deducting a star was because I caught about a dozen errors in the book. Other than that I absolutely loved it and really my 4 stars is 4.5 stars with only a half a star deduction for the errors.)
October 25, 2015
All
I have read all three of Jules and west books, now this one all I can say is they are all amazing, love them, and hope to see another one on Jules and west, and love to see a sequel of darcia and Johan, , Michele if you read this know that you have a deep talent and a heart that knows how to make some one cry , laugh and hold the attention from page to page, thank you
I have read all three of Jules and west books, now this one all I can say is they are all amazing, love them, and hope to see another one on Jules and west, and love to see a sequel of darcia and Johan, , Michele if you read this know that you have a deep talent and a heart that knows how to make some one cry , laugh and hold the attention from page to page, thank you
April 19, 2015
Absolutely LOVED this book! It made me laugh, made me cry, and made me fall in love with all of the characters. Yes, it was heart wrenching, but it was also very honest. This is my first read by this author, and I have to say, I'm looking forward to reading more.
May 24, 2015
Fantastic!!!!!
July 5, 2015
LOVED. so realistic, I felt Dani's pain as if it was my own!
May 18, 2022
I basically skimmed through the whole book. It didn’t hold my attention at all, the good part was rushed through which is quite disappointing and the synopsis lied. This was boring and definitely not worth my time
December 5, 2021
This book is heart wrenching and amazing and beautiful and you should read it.
December 18, 2024
Such a great book. So real and honest and heartbreaking, but sooooo good.
December 16, 2020
Oh boy. Danica’s story was heartbreaking and painful to take. I confess I was uncomfortable through a lot of it. I have a hard time reading about drug use, cutting or any other type of self harm, and although Danica’s story wasn't as graphic as A Little Life, it caused me similar painful emotions.
I started the book trying to find out more about West and Jules but Danica’s struggles overshadowed any desire to know more about them. I was consumed with her story, anxious to see her get better, to save herself and I love that she did. It was all her (and a bit of Lee’s help, of course) but what I mean is, I am glad Miller did not point Danica’s recovery towards a romantic relationship. She took 5 years to recover from that one night when she lost her parents, and the road was terribly painful but she got to the other side on her own and not because of a boy.
I was heartbroken for Luke.
I started the book trying to find out more about West and Jules but Danica’s struggles overshadowed any desire to know more about them. I was consumed with her story, anxious to see her get better, to save herself and I love that she did. It was all her (and a bit of Lee’s help, of course) but what I mean is, I am glad Miller did not point Danica’s recovery towards a romantic relationship. She took 5 years to recover from that one night when she lost her parents, and the road was terribly painful but she got to the other side on her own and not because of a boy.
I was heartbroken for Luke.
May 13, 2016
Into the fire
As with the wreckage series, I really loved this book. I love how the characters are real, how the struggle in everyday life, how they overcome their fears.
This book taught me so much about patience, compassion, acceptance and love...
A definitely must read
As with the wreckage series, I really loved this book. I love how the characters are real, how the struggle in everyday life, how they overcome their fears.
This book taught me so much about patience, compassion, acceptance and love...
A definitely must read
April 29, 2016
I love Michele's books. They are YA not so guilty pleasures. Sweet stories of high school and beyond that are full of romance and remind me think of how fun (and simple!) those years were.
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