A review by entangledinthepages
From the Ashes by Jillian D. Wray

emotional hopeful mysterious reflective fast-paced

5.0

❤️ MM romance

🧡 Rivals to lovers

🤍 Bronc rider

❤️ Firefighter/rancher

🧡 Forced proximity 

🤍 Found family

❤️ Personal demons

🧡 Growth/redemption

Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5

Be still my heart. Jillian. Ma’am. I don’t appreciate you writing a story like this. One that makes me laugh, nervous, feel hope, shock, tension, and so many other emotions. In the wise words of Stephanie Tanner, “How rude!” And by rude, I mean, good Lord ma’am, keep wrecking me in the BEST way because I f***ing LOVED this book! I don’t know how you’re doing it, but keep doing it! I Devoured this book in two days. I couldn’t put it down. Walker and Phoenix are EVERYTHING. I lived it all with them and still want more. This can be read as a stand alone, but you definitely need the background of the other guys in this group because, 🫠 they are the best group of friends! *cue the warm and fuzzies* 

Walker and Phoenix had a night that turned out to be the best and worst thing that had ever happened to them. It changed the trajectory of their lives. Eight years later and they still have never forgotten that fateful night. Being back in each other’s orbit is both a blessing and a curse. One that will change their lives again. As much as one fights to put distance while the other tries to get closer, there is no mistaking that everything they felt for one another all those years ago is still there. Like a ticking time b0mb waiting to combust. And when it happens? 😮‍💨 It is worth every moment apart.

I think I might be in love with Walker and Phoenix. I’m clearly aware that A. they’re fictional, and 2. they’re gay/bi. I don’t even care. Everything about them made me want to climb into my freaking kindle and sandwich myself between them. Although, I get their jealousy likely wouldn’t allow it! 😂 This story flowed so well, every single part of this story just worked. Each of the guys has a plethora of history and personal demons to work through. Seeing them grow, open up, come out, support one another, was fantastic. 

I couldn’t be more thankful for Jillian letting me ARC another of her books, but frankly just being who she is! Super chill when it comes to her Team, she’s supportive, and when I finally got to meet her in person, just an absolute doll! I love her so much and love seeing this journey and growth she’s been on! Congratulations on writing yet another amazing story! 🩷

🤠“With his hat low and his head down, his f*** off vibes are strong despite his win. Like I said, just my type.”

🐴“We can go back to being enemies in the morning, but tonight, I want to make him my own personal bucking beast.”

🤠“His quiet strength is the total opposite of my loud mouth, and I want to see if I can make him scream.”

🐴“Your quiet calmed my chaos and I wasn’t ready for you to go.”

🤠“You’ve got demons. Stop running from them and start talking to them, or they’ll end up as the only company you keep.”

🐴“Because phoenixes are reborn from their own ashes, and part of me died that night with you. I needed a reminder that I could rise again too,”

🤠“I’ve hated myself so long for wanting you,” Phoenix pants against me. “Even then. Even after you messed with my head… because f*** if you didn’t make me feel shit I’d never felt before.”

🐴“You taste like heaven,” I tell him. “And you f*** like hell,” he replies.

🤠“To finding love and f***in’ who you want.”