With Ellie’s fate hanging in the balance after Nosizwe’s brutal attack, Carter is forced to make a life changing decision—the consequences of which threaten to tear Ellie and him apart. Permanently. However, teaming up again may be unavoidable. Nosizwe, convinced Carter as the Talos is the key to unlocking the Stones of Fire, throws everything she has at him, endangering not only Carter but Ellie as well.
When the plots of a traitor allied with the shifter queen shove the two into an unescapable outcome, only the highest form of self-sacrifice can preserve Ellie’s life. But Carter’s act of heroism may cause their entire world to go up in flames.
Don't believe all the hype. Sarah Ashwood isn't really a gladiator, a Highlander, a fencer, a skilled horsewoman, an archer, a magic wielder, or a martial arts expert. That's only in her mind. In real life, she's a genuine Okie from Muskogee, who grew up in the wooded hills outside the oldest town in Oklahoma, USA, and holds a B.A. in English from American Military University. She now lives (mostly) quietly at home with her husband and four children, where she tries to sneak in a daily run or workout to save her sanity and keep her mind fresh for her next story.
For a complete list of all Sarah's works and the links to find them, as well as her social media contacts and newsletter sign up, visit her website at www.sarahashwoodauthor.com.
I was sent an E-ARC of Fire from the Midst from the author and it was such a lovely surprise! I'm leaving this review voluntarily and it is based on my thoughts and is completely honest. This review might contain minor spoilers but not something that would ruin the book
Rating ~ 5 / 5 stars
Here we are again! Fire from the Midst is the third book in Sarah Ashwood's Stones of Fire series. This book picks up immediately after the second book, Down into the Pit . Following the shocking events at the end of book 2, in this book, we get to see Ellie trying to recover from her attack as best as she can despite knowing that Carter, her "fake but real" husband, was sort of responsible for the events leading up to it. While Ellie is trying to cope with the events, Carter is trying to root out the traitor amidst them and trying to figure out to keep Ellie safe even if it means that he will have to send Ellie far from him.
I was still reeling from the huge cliffhanger that ended book two. I mean, I'm not surprised because Sarah Ashwood also ended book 1 in a huge cliffhanger but that time, it caught me by surprise. However, in this book, we really got to see both Carter and Ellie grow. These two got married in order for Carter to save Ellie from the law but now, I got to see them actually act like a married couple and actually show each other that they care for each other. The HUGE shock I got is Carter is actually a huge teddybear! That's the best I can describe him. He might seem like this tough person on the outside but inside, he is a person with a soft heart. He lets his guard down around Ellie and lets her see him for who he really is. He doesn't hide how he feels about her either. And it's about time! These two were made for each other!!!
On the other hand, Elli is struggling to figure out if she wants to be with Carter or leave him behind for the opportunity of being safe for once. I really enjoyed seeing her become a strong woman in the way she acts and thinks. Don't get me wrong, I knew she was strong the moment she lept in front of a bus to save a kid in the first book but this time, even though she is afraid of what might happen, she holds her ground when she is able and doesn't back down. She has come far from the scared woman she was in book 1 when she first got thrown into this shape-shifting world.
Together, they're unstoppable. They would everything and anything for each other to guarantee that the other is safe. Speaking of that, the ending was just superb! Not only did we get to see Carter actually accepting the fact that he truly cared for Ellie but we saw Ellie make a huge decision at the end. One that she doesn't know what might happen to both her and Carter. Truly, the ending was both heartbreaking and emotional to read. Even now, I am still thinking about what is going to happen to Ellie and Carter in the next book and if they will fight through it together while trying to stay together. Such a fantastic book that I don't have words to describe it! Just pick this book up and read this wonderful world that Sarah Ash Wood has created!
I haven't written a review for the previous two books but here are my thoughts so far:
Please stop calling her "kid".
That is the weirdest endearment, if that's even what it is.
I feel like I could probably really pick apart this book about all the things that bothered me. The main characters being the most of it but I won't.
There's a lot that could have been done with these books to really step up their game. The author has a great tone but the dialogue is rough.
I only read this far because I already owned the first three books before I started reading. Since I've made it this far and these books are an easy read I'll probably go ahead and grab the 4th and last to see how it all ends.
It's been long winded in my opinion and despite this fact, there was hardly any build up for these Stones.
Even though I guessed who the betrayer was it was still quite a fun book got to say the plot moved a bit too fast for my liking in this one but hopefully the final book will wrap things up nicely
Have no fear! This book starts where the previous one ended, so that cliffhanger will be resolved! Ellie is dealing with the consequences of the last book, and Carter is coming to terms with it as well. I liked the changes in the relationship between the two that happens. They each really take a look at their marriage and consider all possibilities (except for therapy, which I feel like both of them could use after everything that's happened) to either to stay married or divorce. There's still plenty of action and trouble for the married couple on the rocks to get into and maybe that trouble is what could really bring them together in the end or it might just tear them a part. I liked the twists and turns in this story. I did think that Ellie could have used a little more character development to not just believe people at face value because I think at this point she'd have learned to have a bit more self preservation after all she's been through. This book is still relatively clean like the others (a part from the violence), there's a heavy make out session, but still like the other stories nothing steam, but some innuendo. One thing I loved was the "my wife" vibes this story had.
This book ends on another cliffhanger, but it's not as bad as the previous book's cliffhanger.
This is the 3rd book in the series and the previous books must be read in order prior to this one.
The narrator again does a wonderful job with narration! I'm glad she was able to stick with the series so far. She does a great job differentiating the male voices from the female voices, even differentiating with Ellie's first person perspective and Carter's third person. She does a pretty good job with the character accents. Her Australian was a little rough, but I think that's just because I like hearing that accent from Danny Ricciardo and Mary Kay Benson isn't him, so I'm a little biased.
Wow!!! What a cliffhanger!! I thought of my original feeling towards the story. It did not diminished my rating. I had gotten on audiobook first. It wasn’t until I opened my kindle, that I had the suggestion for story on KU. For almost two hours I was wondering about the chaos, the feelings of despair and I only noticed how far I was into the book (listening on way to work) when I realized it must have been part of a series. Which, I should have checked it out; except I had not paused. Energy saving on phone is truly a blessing.
Towards the end of the novel, I was itching to know how it all started. I had read the book along narration. Glad I was able to read at home through KU. I think this is one of those series I end up purchasing after reading it for free. 🤦🏻♀️ I get the feeling I will be revisiting it by the weekend. Starting from book 1.
Narration by Melissa Kay Benson was exceptional! All emotions came through, and had me immersed in the story. The narration is something one must experience. Beyond storytelling; emotions and characters came to life. Wow! Kudos to narrator!! 😘
Reading order for Stones of Fire 🔥 1. Ashes on the Earth 2. Down into the Pit 3. Fire from the Midst 4. Revairer of the Breach
Parents- PG13 - high school and up readers Language- mild Violence- PG13- some battle gore and shifter fight scenes Sexual Content- PG13- more discussions and jokes about sex but no details and no sex scenes, more kissing in the book and one heavy kissing scene.
These books are highly addictive, very fast paced with the action/mystery element, and do need to be read in order. Both books two and three leave off on pretty intense cliffhangers, which wasn't a big deal until this book, since book 4 hasn't been released yet! I love that these have still stayed clean enough for my teens to read them but I will say that the underlying sexual tension did kick up a bit more in this book- still remained clean which was a pleasant surprise for a shifter series. I can't wait to see where the adventure goes in book four and I'm now anxiously awaiting it's release!
Narrator- 4⭐ Does a great job with overall narration and differentiation between characters. I preferred listening to this one at 1.35x speed.
—I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
This is book 3 in Ashwood's Stones of Fire series. I didn't read / listen to the previous books prior and think I would have benefitted if I had done so. Even with this being the first in the series that I've listened to - I really enjoyed it. The storyline was captivating from the beginning, full of action, remorse, renewal and betrayal. Our main characters are Ellie and Carter. I love how Ellie struggles with her religion and upbringing as well as the chemistry she feels with Carter. I love how Carter is so in tune with Ellie and is willing to put her needs and wants ahead of his own. Narration was done perfectly and the accents were fun to listen to as well - loved that they were put in. Oh - the betrayal and the lead into another book was very well done. I have to say, I'm looking forward to hearing what may be next in the lives of these two!
I received a free copy of this book at my request and I voluntarily provided this review. *this review is based on the audio version of this read.
With another cliffhanger ending, this third book has me ready for the fourth! I enjoyed the mix of suspense/action scenes and relationship development. I'm really starting to cheer for Carter and Ellie and hope their relationship works out in the end, but they've still got a long way to go. My favorite thing about this installment was the focus on forgiveness in relationships. There was a season of blame and justified anger that set up a perfect opportunity for the characters to work on forgiveness and healing.
I wished this book had a little more of a recap on what the motives are for each shifter clan. It's been a while since I've read the first book where they talked about Sean and Nosizwe's motives/why they disagree, and I think a quick reminder of what they each want to do with the Stones would have helped. Still, I love how the events are playing out and can't wait to see how this series ends!
Fire from the Midst is the third book in the Stones of Fire series. I own three of the four books but I also have an ARC of the box set, which is on a pre-order deal for only $0.99! This is an action-packed Urban Fantasy steeped in Mythology and full of heart. It's a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance.
In order to save Ellie's life, Carter has to make a life-altering decision. As her husband by law, he is able to give permission for the surgery that hurts him almost as much as it hurts his big-hearted wife. Ellie's character is so believable that it's easy to get choked up in this story. Will the two be able to reconcile after this latest blow? There's also a traitor in their midst. I had one character pegged as the traitor but, by Book 3, I switched to another suspect. You'll have to read it to find out!
Stones of Fire is the kind of series that once you start reading you won't want to stop, especially with those cliffhanger endings!
I am really loving this series! Fire from the Midst (Stones of Fire #3) takes everything up a notch, the danger, the emotion, and the intensity between Ellie and Carter. After Nosizwe’s brutal attack, the tension is sky-high, and Carter’s choices had me on edge the whole way through. The twists with the traitor and the shifter queen kept me hooked, and the sacrifices made in this book left me reeling.
I listened to the audiobook, and I have to say, Melissa Kay Benson has been absolutely terrific as the narrator throughout this series. She brings the characters to life in such a compelling way. I really hope she’s narrating the next installment too.
This is such a great series, and I can’t wait to dive into the next book. If you enjoy action, suspense, and romance with a supernatural twist, this one will keep you turning pages (or listening late into the night)!
Ellie and Carter have been through so much turmoil. Their lives have been turned upside down as he is injured and she saved him...twice. But she is later kidnapped and taken to the pit. Carter feels like a failure. Ellie blames him for the horrible things that have happened to her because of his attempt at humor.
There is a traitor at the mansion and Carter is doing everything he can to discover who. Ellie wishes to proceed with the divorce, but he finally admits to himself that he loves her.
I was in shock. I did not see the identity of the traitor coming. You will too. This is a great story. Read on my friends.
📕🎧 audio book review 🎧📕 Book 3 in the series. Loved this one and the other 2 Excellent seriesl. The author Sarah Ashwood does it again. She grabs your attention and you run with it. Full of suspense, and mystery. Ellie And Carter are caught in the middle of some events. They think it’s the end of them both. But love how they stick together since Nosizwe thinks there is a way to activate the fires of stones. But they soon realized their must be a traitor among the people that Carter hangs out with
Melissa Kay performance was fantastic. Love how she does all the tones for each character spot on
I really enjoyed book 3 of the "Stones Of Fire" series. I was entertained by all the twists and turns found in the story; however, it does end on a cliffhanger. In my opinion, each book gets better than the one before and I'm looking forward to the next one in the series. I recommend this series to others who enjoy this genre. Melissa Kay Benson's narration was good and she kept my attention to the end of the story. I was given a free copy of the audiobook and I have voluntarily posted this review.
These books just keep getting better and better. But really?! Another cliffhanger?! I love that Ellie & Carter are finally starting to act like a couple, if he calls her "kid" one more time. Ugh. But the rest of the story is amazing! Ellie deals with a terrible loss that Carter causes and then there is a twist that took me off guard. I already bought the last book. I'm going to take a small break to finish a different book from my TBR and read a book for my book club, but then I'm hopping back into this world.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
this one was perhaps the most epic of all the books so far. the cops are drawn into the shifter battle more and more. Ellie has had some hard times and yet is pushing through, piece by piece, little by little. Carter has realized how he actually feels about Ellie but decisions have made things harder on them. We learn more about the tablets, the prophecy, and the traitor. things are gearing up for war.
A brutal attack has landed Ellie in the hospital, an attack aimed at Carter. The villains are recalibrating their sights on the Talos, and the traitor continues to feed information their way.
I LOVED the way this book escalated the series. Everything got bigger, bolder, and deadlier. The traitor is revealed… and oh my will that blow your mind! And the ending… I had to begin book four immediately.
Betrayal. With so much mystery and secrecy, the quest for power continues. What a significant event for Ellie to experience in the put! As more of the mystery unfolds, a nefarious actor hidden in the shadows is working very hard to tip the balance. Once again I enjoyed all of the mythical references and imagery of all of the characters. I even had a flashback to the Jason and the Argonauts claymation movie of some of the characters ☺️. Adding in basic relationship challenges just makes it more real. Looking forward to see how the story ends in the next novel.
The really good story of this series is ruined by one detail. The author has split the story in parts, with Part IV due March 2021. Given the fantasy nature of the story, it could have been 1 or 2 books, which would have made a more satisfying read. At least she put it in Kindle Unlimited.
I've read (listened to) the first two books of the series and very much enjoyed them, so on to the third. Because I'm HOOKED.
This one is my favorite so far. Just when I thought this story could not get any better, I get blindsided. I love that! I cannot wait for the final book of this series. I have no idea where she's going with it!
The story continues. As book 3 we have not lost the page turning need for more. Even ending in a cliffhanger we whine for book 4. We still have the excitement and ongoing relationship development like Carter and Ellie's. However, did take a bit for me to remember previous books. I can't wait to see what happens next.
Elle and Carter cannot deny their feelings. They have fought together and saved each other more than once. Going to the other land changed everything for them. Now they have a lot more to fight for. They are fighting for their lives and marriage. I cannot wait to read viik 4 and see how it all comes together.
This was a good third book in the series. Carter is trying to figure out who the traitor is, anticipate his enemy's next move, and protect Ellie, even when she wants nothing to do with him. The cops get further drawn into the conflict between the two shifter groups.
Loved this book. Ellie has really gone through the ringer yet again, but by the end of this book things are so different. Amazing to find out who the traitor is. The ending was fabulous and I'm excited for the conclusion
This one was an emotional rollercoaster for me and left me with a serious book hangover!! Could not put it down and highly recommend this series!! I'm dying from the cliffhanger ending and NEED the next book!! Excellent audio narration.
This series has truly evolved into quite an addictive read. It's fun, fast-paced, swoon-worthy, unique, basically everything I want for an exciting book to escape with over the weekend. I can't wait to read what happens next!
Sarah Ashwood creates a world with shape shifters living in an uneasy truce alongside humans, torn with shifting loyalties. there's some big shocks in this book but it's fairly short.