Review: Short and sweet story with a powerful punch
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 12 31, 2013
Originally Reviewed For: Tea and Book[...]I have come to the conclusion that author Sarah Gilman has a gift. Her unique storylines alone can capture a reader's attention. Add to that, well developed characters and wings and you just can't miss. Yes, you read that correctly, I said wings. Sarah seems to have a true affection for creatures with wings.Ambrosia Pellerin is a journalist sent on a crazy mission, she's to interview a guy who believes he has found a Phoenix. Only said interviewee is just a little possessive of the story, he beats her, steals her car, money, phone, etc.. and sends her off in the desert. Desperate she stops for help at a shack in the middle of nowhere.. Where she meets a mysterious man who initially is all helpful and kind but suddenly give his car keys and his car and tells her to leave. Only she can't. Worried about the man she stays just long enough to watch the entire place go up in flames.Reece Bennu is a phoenix not just any phoenix but THE phoenix, the Prince, the heir to the throne, the oldest phoenix of the purist bloodline. So what's he doing out in the middle of nowhere? He's getting ready to be reborn, in a place where his ashes can safely disperse. What he doesn't need is some crazed human around trying to prove phoenixes (phoenixi?) exist. And he really doesn't need the sexy human around. But really who ever said life was easy?So it's a month later and the ever so pure Bennu bloodlines are in for a bit of a shakeup.. Ambrosia is pregnant and her entire world has changed in an instant. First she finds out she's pregnant, then she discovers the father's a phoenix, then she finds out she has to move (like now), then... Yeah it's a bit rough on Ambrosia. Of course that's before she finds out her smokin hawt baby daddy is well, sort if a god..Oh and that there is major prejudice issues..Oh and his dear old granny is the worst of the lot. All this and really they barely know each other..But!! One of the reasons this story works is because Ms. Gilman didn't try to make them instantly in love. These two had to learn to work together, had to choose first to be parents, then a family and finally fall in love. They had to discover who the other person was and how to compromise. Reece had to learn that compromise didn't mean that Ambrosia did all the bending, he had to as well.In some ways this was just your regular romance.. That is the true joy of this book.ShauniThis review is based on the ARC of Ashes, provided by netgalley