Young Adult Contemporary Romance discussion

This thread is to discuss the book From Sand and Ash. This is book is Adult. Please use spoiler tags and note the chapter you are on so everyone can read at their own pace. Enjoy!!

Yay can't wait!!!

Starting ...

Chapter one(view spoiler)[ ok, so my heart is already broken for Angelo! First the prologue and maybe it's because I lost my mom, but when he tells Eve, "it isn't the same. Mamma was love. And she didn't even have to try. She just...was." Heart breaking over here :( (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 3(view spoiler)[ they kiss?!?! I need details (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Erika wrote: "Chapter one[spoilers removed]"

Chapter 1 (view spoiler)[Erika, I cried when he described missing his mother. I was like Amy Harmon writes beautifully. Itbreaks my heart that he was sent to Italy away from his dad and sister. (hide spoiler)]

Erika wrote: "Chapter 3[spoilers removed]"

Chapter 3 (view spoiler)[Oh this book is going to make me an emotional wreck. What her uncle said about her playing and music, what it gives them during this horrible time. It breaks my heart and then we get a confession of a kiss...wow. (hide spoiler)]

Chris wrote: "Erika wrote: "Chapter 3[spoilers removed]"

Chapter 3 [spoilers removed]"

Chris wrote: "Erika wrote: "Chapter 3[spoilers removed]"

Chapter 3 [spoilers removed]"

completely agree!!!!

Chapter 4(view spoiler)[ so many thoughts, first the landlord what a horrible woman!!! Those stolen kisses...I'm routing for them...but we know he becomes a priest so I don't know how I'll get what I want. Her dad, kind of made sure he had no choice but to become a priest it's the only way to save Eva. Ugh I'm already frustrated (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 5(view spoiler)[ my heart is aching. Poor Eva... right now I want to throttle Angelo. Side note...Amy Harmon is capturing Florence beautifully (hide spoiler)]

ChApter 6(view spoiler)[ okay, what her dad is doing is commendable but I have a bad feeling about this. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Erika wrote: "Chapter 4[spoilers removed]"

Erika wrote: "Chapter 5[spoilers removed]"

Chapter 4 & 5 (view spoiler)[I'm so appalled to see them losing their rights one after another. I loved Angelo and Eva kissing and my heart melted when Angelo said he felt joy, that love brings joy. I'm devastated for Angelo being pushed into the seminary, yet truly loving it and being torn between serving God and loving Eva. Then to have her father tell him has to become a priest to save Eva. The writing is so good in this story. She makes Angelo's situation so impossible and I'm such a cry baby, I think this one is going to break my heart. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 7(view spoiler)[ I can't believe her dad got sent to Auschwitz. This love that Angelo feels for both Eva and God is messing with my emotions (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Erika wrote: "Chapter 7[spoilers removed]"

Chapter 7 (view spoiler)[ It's so sad that Camillo thought he could go to Austria and help Otto. Then to hear he was sent to Auschwitz. He is such a good man helping many. I agree Angelo's love for both God and Eva is really tough. Can I Say that I don't normally read books with a lot of religion , but I'm really loving reading about the Jewish and Cathlic beliefs/traditions in the story. (hide spoiler)]

Chris wrote: "Erika wrote: "Chapter 7[spoilers removed]"

Chapter 7 [spoilers removed]"

Me too!!!!

Chapter 9(view spoiler)[ so I don't like talking about religion, I was raised there's 2 things you don't discuss and that's politics and religion, but I have to say this...it must be hard to be in a situation where you have to pretend to practice a religion you don't believe in. My heart breaks for Eva. I get not caring...for what? She'll never have Angelo and her Dad for all she knows is dead(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 10(view spoiler)[ my heArt can't take this(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Erika wrote: "Chapter 9[spoilers removed]"

Erika wrote: "Chapter 10[spoilers removed]"

I completely agree with you!!!

Chapter 9 & 10 (view spoiler)[This book is killing me!!! I feel like I am an emotional wreck reading it. haha It's just so real, with all the real history, religion, the dates, the diary confessions. I feel like I'm reading a memoir. I agree Eva feels like she has lost everything and then the convent she is staying at so alone. I feel so much for her. Then what she did helping to save her family from the raid, was amazing. I'm so glad that Mario made it back too. Angelo really is amazing too all that he does. As she see more and more what he does for everyone, she will see his sacrifice. He has done exactly what her father wanted. I want Eva to know what Camillo told him. I'm such a sap I am crying writing this and I'm so glad I'm doing this buddy read with you, Erika. This book needs to be shared with another reader!! (hide spoiler)]

The worst part is I have to put the book down to go to work! :/

Chapter 13(view spoiler)[ okay, Amy Harmon is AMAZING!!! I feel like I'm reading a biography. Her writing is simply beautiful. Is Angelo going to take her up on her offer to be together? I think it's crazy for her to take that job, but I get it, she has to do something. My emotions are everywhere!!!! I am sooooo glad we're reading this together. I need someone to understand my pain, to share in it with me. This book is incredible (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 19(view spoiler)[ ok...I'm happy he's finally realized he needs to be with her . Okay, did they have sex? I feel like yes? The raid had my heart hammering!!!! I'm worried about Greta, I feel like she'll be the cause of why the Germans take Eva(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 11 (view spoiler)[Oh my when Angelo explains to his Monsieur when he sees a Jewish person he sees Eva. That she is his driving force. She makes him a better priest....so many feels!! Then he warns Angelo about the now or never. I swear my heart is pounding reading. THIS BOOK IS AMAZING!!! (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 20(view spoiler)[ I just can't!!! I know this book is fiction, but this really happened, people were treated like this. The horrors I'm reading were someone's reality. Amy Harmon has me present and at attention in Italy. I thought I knew a lot about what happened to the Jews but I think you can never truly know someone else's nightmare. We know Angelo makes it...but what happens to Eva? I don't believe in tarot cards, but does he have many children with a beautiful woman? Is they woman Eva?????(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 24(view spoiler)[ I hope he finds her. I hope he finds her. I hope he finds her. I am so happy he's looking for her, but I hope he doesn't miss her. She's not at the camp. I'll be biting my nails as I read (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 25(view spoiler)[ I KNEW IT!!!! When her dad said Angelo was in her, I thought oh my goodness she's pregnant!! He found her!!!!!!! Okay...what happens now?(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

finished(view spoiler)[ so I absolutely loved this book. While there is no real happy ending as a whole for this book. many people lost their lives to cruelty but I am glad that we got a small bit of happiness with Angelo and Eva. I am glad that they started fresh in America. I can't wait to see what everyone else thinks.(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

I'm so jealous you're done! I'm just sitting down to do some reading!

Erika wrote: "Chapter 19[spoilers removed]"

Chapter 19 (view spoiler)[ it definitely says they made love but it just didn't show it on the page. I'm so glad that Angela finally gave into his love but I'm just so worried for the both of them . I'm also worried about Greta with Eva. I think that something maybe said the can get Eva in trouble. This book is so stressful. Her working for Captain Von Essen is killing me. (hide spoiler)]

Erika wrote: "Chapter 20[spoilers removed]"

Chapter 20 (view spoiler)[ I couldn't agree more. Amy Harmon has brought the horrors of this war to life in this book and it's devastating to read. I'm really scared for how this book will end because how do you shine a light on so much horror. (hide spoiler)]

Chris wrote: "Erika wrote: "Chapter 19[spoilers removed]"

Chapter 19 [spoilers removed]"

I realized as I read that (view spoiler)[ that they did make love, I don't know why I didn't get that.(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Chris wrote: "Erika wrote: "Chapter 20[spoilers removed]"

Chapter 20 [spoilers removed]"

Make sure when you finish to read the Authors notes, makes the book so much better

Chapter 22 (view spoiler)[ Wow, the dream came true and now she is taking care of Pierre. Poor boy having to jump without his mother... (hide spoiler)]

Erika wrote: "finished[spoilers removed]"

Erika wrote: "Chris wrote: "Erika wrote: "Chapter 20[spoilers removed]"

Chapter 20 [spoilers removed]"

Make sure when you finish to read the Authors notes, makes the book so much better"

Finished (view spoiler)[Wow this book was fantastic. The way Amy Harmon depicted and detailed this horrible time was amazing. Hearing at the end about reality of characters, events, it truly did read like a biography. I love Angelo and Eva and they are two insirational characters who are now favorites of mine. They maybe fictional characters, but they brought some light and beauty to the story. I thought she might end up pregnant, but when Camillo said Angelo was inside her I didn't even catch it like you did. well, I can't even express how well written this book is. So glad we buddy read it! (hide spoiler)]

Chris wrote: "Erika wrote: "finished[spoilers removed]"

Erika wrote: "Chris wrote: "Erika wrote: "Chapter 20[spoilers removed]"

Chapter 20 [spoilers removed]"

Make sure when you finish to read the Authors not..."


Me too!!!

Erika wrote: "Chapter 13[spoilers removed]"

Oh My Gosh you guys!!! I agree 100% with everything!!! My heart has been in my throat for at least 3 chapters!! It breaks everytime Angelo and Eva work together.... I am so in love with this world and I hate it all in one!!

Chapter 15 (view spoiler)[....I love that yhey helped buy food and presents for Christmas...I can't help but feel like this might be the reason she gets caught though....stealing back the gold is so very risky....I also wanted to jump back a couple chapters to the german who killed himself....Only because I think that one scene spoke volumes on an era of lost souls all around.... (hide spoiler)]

Vega_girl wrote: "Erika wrote: "Chapter 13[spoilers removed]"

Oh My Gosh you guys!!! I agree 100% with everything!!! My heart has been in my throat for at least 3 chapters!! It breaks everytime Angelo and Eva work ..."

Right!!!!! This book emotionally tore me up!!

Erika wrote: "Chapter 20[spoilers removed]"

Yes, yes ,yes!!! This was millions of peoples reality....and the cave...oh my heart hurts so bad!!

Chapter 23 (view spoiler)[....of all the thingss I have ever wondered about this horrid time....the smell in the streets never occurred to me.....I know its a weird fact but Europe must have been a disgusting not just morally but physically (hide spoiler)]

Chaoter 24....Mario's speech...oh the feels!!! The tears!!

Vega_girl wrote: "Chaoter 24....Mario's speech...oh the feels!!! The tears!!"

I'm so happy you're loving this book!!!!

I did live it!!! I finished it a couole days ago but this kne page was acting weird and wouldn't let me post. Definitely 5☆ for me!!

Vega_girl wrote: "I did live it!!! I finished it a couole days ago but this kne page was acting weird and wouldn't let me post. Definitely 5☆ for me!!"

Glad you loved it!!!