Rocker Ash And ER doctor Skye's Story Is Sweet Yet Emotionally Charged As Skye's Painful Past Is An Unavoidable Obstacle To The Couple's Happiness. Don't Forget To Download The Free Prequel!
This is book one of the Angel Fire Rock Romance series, a four book series about the hugely successful rock band Angel Fire. It reads as a stand-alone. There is a free prequel available via a download link within this book; Ashes to New gives the tragic background story of Skye Summers and her foster brother Forest. Forest plays an important role in this story and goes on to play an important role in the Captive Hearts series, a three part series ending in Forest's own story.
Angel Fire is one of the biggest rock bands around. The band nearly broke up a few years back when drugs and addiction became a problem, but after some rehab and a sobriety pledge, they have continued on stronger than ever. Lead singer and guitarist Blaze has been friends since high school with Bash, who plays drums. Spike plays guitar and happens to be covered in piercings. Bent, who has a mop of curly black hair, plays bass. Noodles, tall and lanky, plays on keyboards and stands out with his tribal tats. Although the men have settled down in comparison to their earlier years, they continue to be a rowdy bunch. They fight like brothers and enjoy the pleasures offered by scores of groupies.
Ash Dean, a.k.a. Blaze of Angel Fire, wears a dragon tattoo on his neck that hadn't gone over well with his minister father and elementary school teacher mother. The youngest of five, he didn't follow the traditional path the his older brothers and sisters chose. He got his GED and left home to pursue his musical career at age seventeen. At twenty-eight, he has achieved great success, but not without a price. His addiction nearly broke up the band, but he has been clean for years now. He has had more than his share of women, but the novelty has worn off. He is waiting to find that elusive "one" that his father told him about. It was how his father knew he would marry his mother when they met.
Skye Summers, probably twenty-seven, has worked hard to become an ER doctor, graduating early from high school and entering an accelerated six year medical program. It has kept her busy, which is why she does it. Working is her way to self medicate. She also avoids conflict. Her childhood was robbed from her by her foster father, and although she knows she needs therapy, she hasn't had time to slow down for it yet. Somehow she managed to snag Spencer McAdams three years ago. She is engaged to the successfull lawyer, and when things don't seem right in their relationship he always manages to convince her that it is her fault, on account of her history and the triggers that plague her. She has a hard time disagreeing, but Spencer might have just gone too far this time.
When Skye runs into a rowdy bunch of men at her favorite coffee shop, her patience with men is at an end and she snaps, no longer capable of being complacent. She chews the bunch out for their poor manners and promptly exits, in a hurry to get to work. When Ash sees Skye, he is drawn to her. She really gets his attention when she doesn't hesitate to give him an earful of her opinion of him. She doesn't appear to recognize him, which is a novelty. She sees him - Ash - not Blaze of Angel Fire. He knows then that she is the one, and he won't let her go.
Ash and Skye's story is sweet yet emotionally charged as Skye's painful past is an unavoidable obstacle to the couple's happiness. Skye reluctantly allows a persistent Ash to enter her life. The pair grow closer, but Ash's identity as a rock star and the nature of Skye's history threaten to put a prompt halt to the blossoming romance. Ash is patient and steadfast in his pursuit of Skye. His dedication is adorable. The world seems to conspire against the couple, as Skye's uncertainty is tested by Spencer, her brother, the band, and the public. The couple earns their happy ending.
Some might be initially turned off by Skye's weakness, which is sometimes hard to read about. However, as the story unfolds and context is given, Skye transforms in a survivor, someone willing to fight back, but whose experience in life hasn't given her sound judgement or self confidence. She isn't normal, so she questions herself and is vulnerable to manipulation in a relationship. Ash is wonderfully supportive of her and she is able to begin on the road to recovery under his loving devotion.
Ash and Skye's story is sweet and steamy, but Skye's dark past is a threat to their happiness. Their story is well-written. The plot is somewhat complex. The characters are carefully crafted. The story is written in third person. It is told in Skye's POV with the exception of the epilogue, which is told in Ash's POV. I rate this book 4.5 stars.