From the Ashes

Hostage Negotiation Team #2.5

by Julie Coulter Bellon

**This is a bonus novella that takes place directly following Ashes, Ashes (Hostage Negotiation Team #2)** As a suspect in Senator DeMarco's murder, Sophia Naziri worked hard to bring the true killer to justice and prove her innocence. But she pays a high personal price trying to clear her name when she's held hostage and nearly killed---and Sophia can't put it behind her just yet. Matters get even more complicated when classified information regarding the murder is leaked. Sophia is besieged by the press and trapped even further by the memories that won't let her move on. In order to escape the situation, Sophia heads to a secluded cabin with Detective Colby Black so they can lay low and figure out who the leak is. But can Sophia find the peace she craves? Or will the circumstances that brought her and Colby together now drive them apart?
Other books in the award-winning Hostage Negotiation
All Fall Down (Hostage Negotiation Team #1)
Falling Slowly (Hostage Negotiation Team #1.5)
Ashes Ashes (Hostage Negotiation Team #2)
From the Ashes (Hostage Negotiation Team #2.5)
Pocket Full of Posies (Hostage Negotiation Team #3)
Forget Me Not (Hostage Negotiation Team #3.5)
Ring Around the Rosie (Hostage Negotiation Team #4)

102 pages, Paperback

First published November 8, 2014

About the author

After reading every Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden, and Hardy Boys book her elementary school library had, Julie Coulter Bellon knew from a young age she wanted to write books and be a published author someday. That dream came true and she is now the author of thirty romantic suspense novels and two children's books. One nightmare that also came true was that she once tripped up the stairs going on stage to accept a book award and she thinks about that moment more often than she should.

Julie loves to travel and her favorite cities she's visited so far are probably Athens, Paris, Ottawa, and London. She is a former journalist and podcast host of Authors Off the Page. She loves to read, write, teach, watch Hawaii Five-O reruns, and eat Canadian chocolate. Not necessarily in that order.

If you'd like to be the first to hear about Julie's new projects and receive a free book, you can sign up to be part of her VIP Readers Group at juliebellon DOT com

Reviews

[Aimee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm always excited to read books by authors I love. This little bonus piece is a novella that comes after "Ashes, Ashes", book two in the Hostage Negotiation Team series. You really need to read that book before you pick up this novella or you will be hopelessly lost. But if you haven't yet read this series by Julie Bellon, you really, really should. It is a fantastic romantic suspense series. The tension never lets up. It's one of my favorites.

As for this novella, I loved it. It wasn't so intense in the suspense department but it gave me that P.S., the happily ever after kind of note at the end. More detail of how things go after the main intense drama and action. It was the after effects. What happens when Sophia and Colby come home? It isn't all sunshine and lollipops but there is for sure some sweetness in there. :) This is a super quick read and I hope Julie does more of these for the other books! So fun.

My thanks to Julie for letting me read and review for her. I love being a part of her SWAT team! What could be better than reading and reviewing for one of your favorite authors? Not much! Reading is happy.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't tell you the number of times I've finished reading a book and I've wanted to know more about the characters, so I love that author Julie Coulter Bellon is writing continuations for her Hostage Negotiation Series.

From the Ashes is a continuation of Colby and Sophia's story from Ashes to Ashes. I read Ashes to Ashes about a year and a half ago, so it was a bit hard to remember the details. I wish I would have had time to re-read it as From the Ashes would have meant quite a bit more having everything fresh on my mind, but it was still an enjoyable novella.

I thought the suspense and romance were well written, and this is a great addition to the series. I also love the cover.

[Debra Erfert · Rating 5 out of 5]

FROM THE ASHES is a follow up story to ASHES ASHES, a novel. Ms. Bellon lets us see deeper into the romantic lives of the two main characters, Detective Colby Black and his girlfriend Sofia Naziri. I was especially excited to read this, to find out what happened after ASHES ASHES ended, since I knew it wasn't really the end to their story. It was fast paced, and kept me clicking to the next page. I read it in one sitting. I highly recommend this to any romantic who loves a great suspense.

[Fay Klingler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not a romance reader. I'm a mystery, suspense reader. For that reason I didn't enjoy this book quite as much as the other books in the series. But then I think that was the purpose of the book, to provide a romantic conclusion for two characters in the series--Colby and Sophia. And I truly LOVED the Hostage Negotiation Team series! For a short novella, the author provided romance, mystery, and suspense. So I decided to give the book five stars.

[NaDell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it when authors tell the rest of the story. This one was even more than just a little wrap up. It had the same level of intense plot twists that the original story did while still portraying the characters I met in the other books in the series.

[Jordan McCollum · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great follow-up to Ashes, Ashes! Colby and Sophia deal with the aftermath of their ordeal and take their relationship to a new level of commitment! This is more focused on the romance aspect than the novel, but if you love Colby and Sophia, you'll love seeing them grow even closer!

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so happy to go back and find out what happened to Colby and Sophia when they came home. I hope you enjoy it, too!

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating 3.5. I am not always one for short stories but I am glad I read this one so that I know this part of the story of Sophia and Colby's relationship. I enjoyed this story.

[Ellen White · Rating 4 out of 5]

This continues with the news media and they are making it look bad for Sophie. It had taken a toll on her with testifying, and being held hostage, and would take time for her to get over it. There was a leak on the Bulgaria Task Force Mission and they are looking for who did it.Going up to the cabin and with a few others, hoping the media will die down, and the leak found. Hating to leave Bart with all the added work while he was gone, and it will only be a few days. Tension is high at the cabin, or is it something more
and the love and support of Colby for her.

[Lynette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read. Good story.

[Lydia Peterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute little story that showed the insights of Colby and Sophia after their story in Ashes Ashes. I was so gald that they found away to get over their fears and trust one another.

[Mindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this novella after-story for Colby and Sophia. I love how we are able to see what happened to them after their first adventure in Ashes Ashes. While reading, I was able to recall events from Ashes Ashes and was reliving all that these poor characters endured. Julie does a fantastic job of building suspense and raising suspicions. One character in particular was not so forgiving. I enjoyed how Julie built the suspense and threw me off track to who was causing the trouble. The pages turn quick in this engaging story and I hope that Julie will give us more after-their-story novellas from her other Hostage Negotiation books.

[Julia Lance · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was fun to be able to read more of Colby and Sophia's story after reading Ashes to Ashes. I love these little novellas that give you the look and the ending you dream up in your head after reading a good book! This one still has some action and clean romance. It was a great side to the Hostage Negotiator Series!