The Beautiful Ashes

( 35 )

Overview

In a world of shadows, anything is possible. Except escaping your fate.

Ever since she was a child, Ivy has been gripped by visions of strange realms just beyond her own. But when her sister goes missing, Ivy discovers the truth is far worse?her hallucinations are real, and her sister is trapped in a parallel realm. And the one person who believes her is the dangerously attractive guy who's bound by an ancient legacy to betray her.

Adrian might...

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The Beautiful Ashes

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Overview

In a world of shadows, anything is possible. Except escaping your fate.

Ever since she was a child, Ivy has been gripped by visions of strange realms just beyond her own. But when her sister goes missing, Ivy discovers the truth is far worse—her hallucinations are real, and her sister is trapped in a parallel realm. And the one person who believes her is the dangerously attractive guy who's bound by an ancient legacy to betray her.

Adrian might have turned his back on those who raised him, but that doesn't mean he can change his fate…no matter how strong a pull he feels toward Ivy. Together they search for the powerful relic that can save her sister, but Adrian knows what Ivy doesn't: that every step brings Ivy closer to the truth about her own destiny, and a war that could doom the world. Sooner or later, it will be Ivy on one side and Adrian on the other. And nothing but ashes in between….

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Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly
★ 09/29/2014
Frost's fast-paced paranormal romantic thriller is a pure stunner. Ivy is already overwhelmed by dealing with her parents' death and the disappearance of her sister, Jasmine. The last thing she needs is Adrian, an undeniably handsome stranger, telling her that the visions that she's had since childhood are completely real and Jasmine has been kidnapped by demons. Soon, Ivy is on an epic adventure of Biblical proportions. She comes from the line of King David and can see into demon realms as well as destroy demons. Adrian isn't a demon, but he's the sworn enemy of the Davidians. Nonetheless, the attraction between them is too intense to ignore. As Ivy searches for the one weapon that might let her save her sister, she slowly comes to grips with her place in this archaic and never-ending war. Frost (Once Burned) skillfully balances passion and peril in an attention-grabbing story that's exciting from the first page. The mythos is intriguing and inventive. Readers will hungrily anticipate the next installment. (Sept.)
From the Publisher
"Leavened with strong emotion and dark humor, and featuring superior writing as well as a thoughtfully structured plot, Cat and Bones's final adventure is appropriately splendid and satisfying." —

Publishers Weekly (starred review) on Up From the Grave

"A taut, intriguing paranormal romantic suspense that keeps the pages turning from the very first paragraph."

—Kirkus Reviews on Twice Tempted

"I always open a Frost book with happy anticipation, and I've never been disappointed."

—#1 New York Times bestselling author Charlaine Harris on Once Burned

"As Cat's journey continues, Frost's fans are assured of plenty of sexy sizzle along with their doses of extreme jeopardy."

—RT Book Reviews on One Grave at a Time

"A refreshing change of pace in a genre...new and returning readers alike will enjoy this warmhearted and often hot-blooded adventure."

—Publishers Weekly on This Side of the Grave

"Wildly romantic as well as action-packed."

—RT Book Reviews on Eternal Kiss of Darkness

"A passionate and tantalizing tale, filled with dark sensuality and fast-paced action. "

—#1 New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole on First Drop of Crimson

School Library Journal
09/01/2014
Gr 9 Up—Twenty-year-old Ivy is looking for her younger sister Jasmine after she suddenly disappears. During her search, Ivy discovers the truth behind the strange visions that have afflicted her since childhood—she is able to see into the demon realm, and this just happens to be where Jasmine is trapped. With the guidance of the brooding, too-perfect male specimen Adrian, Ivy will stop at nothing to rescue her sister. However, there's a catch. It turns out that Ivy is the last descendent of the biblical hero David and is the only one that can find and wield a powerful relic to triumph over evil. Adrian is battling demons of his own with a dark past riddled with secrets that deeply conflict with his powerful attraction to Ivy. Unfortunately, there isn't a lot of world- or character-building to be had, and the plot can be groan-inducingly predictable at times. Ideally, the sequels will delve a bit more deeply to give the series some substance. Still, the pacing is tight and readers should fly through the story. Reluctant readers as well as fans of the "Twilight" books and other paranormal romances will eat this one up. A slightly steamy romance scene and the occasional curse word make this appropriate for older teens.—Kimberly Castle-Alberts, Hudson Library & Historical Society, OH
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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780373779055
  • Publisher: Harlequin
  • Publication date: 8/26/2014
  • Series: A Broken Destiny Novel Series , #1
  • Pages: 304
  • Sales rank: 58141
  • Product dimensions: 5.30 (w) x 8.20 (h) x 0.90 (d)

Meet the Author

Jeaniene Frost

Jeaniene Frost is the New York Times, USA TODAY, and international bestselling author of the Night Huntress and Night Prince series for Avon and the Broken Destiny series for Harlequin HQN. Jeaniene’s books have sold in twenty different countries to date. She lives in North Carolina and Florida with her husband.

Jeaniene enjoys hearing from fans on Goodreads, Livejournal, Twitter @Jeaniene_Frost, Facebook, YouTube and the Frost Fans chat forum.

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Read an Excerpt

I'm twenty, and already, I've got nothing left to lose. That's why I didn't care that Bennington, Vermont, looked like a postcard for autumn in the country. The two-story bed-and-breakfast I pulled up to was no different. It even had a white picket fence and a steady swirl of sunset-colored leaves drifting down from the many trees in the yard.

My picturesque surroundings were in stark contrast to how I looked. If I hadn't been exhausted from grief and stress, I might've cared that my brown hair now resembled greasy mud. Or that my breath was in desperate need of a Mentos, and don't get me started on the coffee stains decorating my WMU shirt. Since I had more important things to worry about, I didn't even bother to cover my head against the downpour as I left my car and ran into the bed-and-breakfast.

"One moment!" a cheery voice called out from farther inside. Then a heavyset older woman with graying red hair came down the hallway.

"Hello, dear. I'm Mrs. Paulson. Are you— Oh, my, you're soaked!"

"It's nothing," I said, but she bustled out of sight, returning moments later with a towel.

"You sit down and dry yourself off," she ordered in the same tsking tone my mother had used a million times before. A surge of grief had me dropping into the chair she waved at. The things you didn't realize you'd miss until they were gone…

"Thanks," I said, determined not to cry in front of a total stranger. Then I pulled out the Ziploc bag I'd carried around for most of the day. "I'm looking for two people who might've stayed here the weekend before last."

As I spoke, I pulled out a picture of my sister, Jasmine, and her boyfriend, Tommy.

Mrs. Paulson got a pair of glasses from her apron pocket. Then she sat behind a large antique desk and accepted the picture. I sat, as well, not wanting to appear rude.

"Oh, what a pretty girl," she said, adding kindly, "just like you. But I've never seen either of them before, sorry."

"Thanks," I said, although I wanted to scream.

I'd spent the day showing Jasmine's picture to every hotel, motel and inn in Bennington, yet no one had recognized my sister. She'd been here, though. The last texts she'd sent came from Bennington, but the police already hinted that they thought she'd sent them while driving through. To them, Jasmine was an impulsive eighteen-year-old who'd gone on a road trip with her boyfriend. My sister might be impulsive, but she wouldn't have disappeared for over a week unless she was in real trouble.

I stuffed her picture back into the plastic bag and rose, so upset that I barely registered what Mrs. Paulson was saying.

"…can't let you go back out in that, dear. Wait here until the rain stops."

I blinked in surprise at her unexpected kindness. Every other proprietor had been anxious for me to leave once they knew why I was there, as if losing a family member could somehow be contagious. My eyes stung with a sudden rush of tears. Maybe it was. My parents' funeral was the day after tomorrow. "Thank you, but I can't," I said, voice husky from emotions I couldn't let myself feel yet. The shock helped with that. Ten days ago, my biggest concern was making a bad impression on my Comparative Revolutions professor after my text message alerts kept going off in his class. Then I'd read Jasmine's texts, and everything changed.

Mrs. Paulson gave me another sympathetic smile. "At least let me make you a hot cup of tea—"

A dark, hazy double image suddenly appeared over the reception lounge, making it look as though it had aged over a hundred years in an instant. I stifled a groan. Not this again.

The pricey antiques vanished, replaced by broken-down furniture or nothing at all. The temperature also plummeted, making me shiver before movement in the hallway caught my eye.

A blonde girl walked past the decrepit-looking reception lounge. Her face was smudged with dirt and she was bundled up in a tattered blanket, but I didn't need a second glance to recognize her.

"Jasmine," I whispered.

Mrs. Paulson came around the desk and grabbed me, coiling shadows suddenly darting across her face as if she had snakes trapped beneath her flesh. Jasmine continued to walk by as if she wasn't aware that we were there. If not for the innkeeper's surprisingly strong grip, I could have reached out and touched my sister.

"Wait!" I cried out.

The house blinked back into elegant furnishings and warm, cozy temperatures. Just as quickly, Jasmine disappeared. Mrs. Paulson still held me in a tight grip, although the shadows on her face had vanished. I finally managed to shove her away, heading down the hallway where I'd glimpsed my sister.

Before I made it three steps, pain exploded in the back of my head. It must've briefly knocked me out, because the next thing I knew, I was on my knees and Mrs. Paulson was about to hit me with a heavy picture frame again.

Get out! The single, emphatic thought was all my mind was capable of producing. My body must've agreed. I don't know how, but I was suddenly outside and slamming the door shut on my Cherokee. Then I sped away, wondering what hell had made Mrs. Paulson turn from a kindly old lady into a skull-smashing maniac.

I drove back to my hotel as though on autopilot. After I parked, I sat in the car with the engine off, trying to fight back nausea while I figured out my next mood. I could call 911, but I didn't want to admit that I'd had another weird hallucination right before Mrs. Paulson attacked me. If I told anyone that, I'd be signing up for a stay in a padded room. Again. Second, the cops in Bennington already didn't like me. As soon as I'd arrived this morning, I'd bitched them out for not doing enough to find Jasmine. They'd probably take Mrs. Paulson's side and assume I'd done something to provoke her.

I paused outside my door. Had I? I didn't remember getting away from Mrs. Paulson. What if I'd done something else I didn't remember? Maybe something that had scared her so much, she'd hit me in self-defense? The idea that I might be having blackouts in addition to hallucinations soured my already-bleak mood. I got out of the car and went to my hotel room. Once inside, I dropped my purse as though it were a fifty pound anchor, then flicked on the light.

Everything in me stiffened. The couch should've been empty, but a guy with hair the color of dark honey sat there, his large frame taking up most of the space. Strong brows, a straight nose, high cheekbones and a sensual mouth made up a face that was striking enough to adorn billboards. He didn't look startled by my appearance, either. In fact, if I didn't know better, I'd swear he'd been expecting me.

Gorgeous guys do not spend their evenings waiting around for me. That's why I thought he was another hallucination until he spoke. My hallucinations had never spoken to me before.

"Hi," the stranger said, his deep voice tinged with an accent I couldn't place. "Sorry to tell you, but you're about to have a really bad night."

I knew I should turn around, open the door and run, preferably while screaming. That was the only logical response; but I stood there, somehow unafraid of my intruder. Great. My survival instincts must've secretly made a suicide pact.

"If you knew the week I'd had, you'd realize that whatever you had planned could only make it better," I heard myself reply, proving my vocal cords were in on the death wish.

Then again, I wasn't wrong. My sister? Missing without a trace after texting me help and trapped! last Monday. Parents? Died in a car accident two days after they arrived in Bennington trying to retrace Jasmine's steps. Me? In addition to losing my whole family, I'd just nearly gotten my head bashed in. By comparison, being robbed sounded like a vacation.

A grin cocked the side of my intruder's mouth. Whatever response he'd been expecting, it hadn't been that.

"If I win? Probably. If I lose, things are about to get much, much worse," he assured me.

"What's the contest?" I asked, wondering why I was having a conversation with my intruder. Brain damage from the head wound?

He rose. Despite my baffling lack of fear, I flinched as he came nearer. He had to be a foot taller than my five-six height, with shoulders that would fill a door frame and muscles no bulky overcoat could hide. The only thing more striking was his eyes: a deep blue rimmed with gray so light it almost gleamed.

"The contest is to see who walks out of here with you," he replied, that silver-and-sapphire gaze sliding over me.

"What if I don't want to go anywhere?" I countered.

"It's too late for that," he said softly, reaching out and drawing my attention to the fact that he wore leather gloves.

I darted away. For some reason, I still wasn't consumed with terror—wake up, survival instincts!—but I wasn't about to let him grab me. He didn't try to stop me as I ran past him into the bedroom. Then again, I realized with an inner groan, why would he? Now he stood between me and the room's only door.

He came toward me, and my heart started to hammer. Why hadn't I left when I had the chance? And why wasn't I screaming for help right now?

Three hard raps on the door startled me. Then I couldn't believe it when I recognized the voice.

"Miss Jenkins, could you let me in? It's Detective Kroger. We met this morning at the police station."

A cop when I needed one? Miracles did happen!

To my shock, my intruder turned around and opened the door. The two men stared at each other, and though the intruder had his back to me, I saw Detective Kroger size him up.

"He broke into my room," I said, making a "do something" gesture.

Kroger's brow went up. "Is that so, mister?"

"Guess you'd better take me in," my intruder drawled.

I expected Kroger to reach for his handcuffs. Instead, he came inside, shut the door and turned off the lights.

"What are you doing?" I gasped.

"Move over to the couch," Kroger said, and I didn't know if he was talking to me or my enigmatic intruder.

I wasn't going to remain in the dark to find out. I felt around the bedroom until I reached the nightstand, then turned on the lamp. Light flooded the room, showing that my intruder was still in the mini lounge area with Kroger. In fact, it didn't look like either man had moved an inch. What was going on?

"Why aren't you arresting me, Detective?" the intruder asked in his silky, accented voice.

"Good question," I added.

"Shut up, bitch," Kroger said harshly.

My jaw dropped. Before I could respond, Kroger's fist shot out, punching the bigger man in the shoulder. Then he frowned, as if surprised that it had no effect. The intruder caught Kroger's fist when he swung at him again.

Kroger stared, disbelief creasing his features as he tried to yank free and couldn't. Then, understanding seemed to dawn.

"You must be Adrian," Kroger spat. "In the flesh," my intruder responded lightly. I was about to ask what the hell was going on when shots rang out. I dropped down right as one of the men hurtled toward me, too fast to see who. I managed to leap away without getting flattened, though I took out the nightstand in my wild lunge.

The room went dark as the lamp broke. My heart pounded at the instant blindness. I hadn't been afraid before, but I was now, trapped in a room with two men who clearly wanted to kill each other. I began to feel my way around the bed again, and this time, stumbled on something big. That something grabbed me, and I freaked out, kicking, punching and clawing to get free.

Then I was yanked away and shoved viciously into the wall. Pain exploded over me, and when I swallowed, I tasted blood. I started to fall, dazed, when a rough grip hauled me up.

A beam of moonlight landed on my attacker's face, and I recoiled. Shadows flicked like snake tongues across Kroger's skin, turning his features into a sickening mask of evil. Worse, I knew I wasn't hallucinating. The pain I felt was too real.

"You want to know what happened to your sister?" Kroger's voice was harsh. Guttural. "You're about to find out."

Without thinking about it, I punched him as hard as I could. He looked surprised, but the blow didn't even make him flinch.

Suddenly, he was snatched backward and then flung straight up. As Kroger fell back down, Adrian kicked him hard enough to send him crashing through the bedroom window. Before I could even scream, Adrian leaped after him. Then all I heard were thumping noises and groans before a distinct snapping sound made something primal tense inside me.

One of them had just died, I knew it. But which one?

A dark form rose in the gaping hole where the window had been. I began to back away, every movement painful, when I saw something silvery gleam in the moonlight.

Adrian's eyes.

"Looks like you're coming with me, after all," he said while vaulting through the window.

I wasn't bothered by his casual tone or the fact that he'd just killed someone. I was too busy trying to absorb what I'd seen on Detective Kroger's face, let alone what he'd said.

You want to know what happened to your sister? You're about to find out.

Hope clawed through my reeling emotions. If the snakelike shadows on Kroger's face were real, then maybe so was my vision ofJasmine at the bed-and-breakfast!

"We need to…get Jasmine," I managed to gasp, feeling something wet where I clutched my abdomen.

Adrian pried my hands away and sighed.

"You're hurt. Sorry, he was one of Demetrius's dogs, so he was harder to kill."

He picked me up. Despite Adrian's touch being far gentler than Kroger's, I couldn't stop my pained moan.

"Don't worry, you'll be better soon," he said, carrying me toward the door.

We need to get Jasmine! I wanted to insist, but my tongue seemed to have gone on strike. The tingling in my limbs and buzzing in my ears probably wasn't a good sign, either.

"What's your name, anyway?" I heard Adrian ask, his voice now sounding very far away.

I managed one word before everything went dark.

"Ivy."

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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 35 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(19)

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(10)

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See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 35 Customer Reviews
  • Posted Wed Aug 27 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    I Also Recommend:

    I am blown away. Action packed and full of mystery, this Broken

    I am blown away. Action packed and full of mystery, this Broken Destiny series is going to be phenomenal. Our leading lady here is Ivy. She quite a interesting character. She starts out being fairly naïve and trusting. As the story progresses you can see how she tries to shed her innocence to what is around her. So much is revealed about her but I suspect more to come in future books. Adrian, oh Adrian. The mysteries surrounding you. I am taken back as each layer is exposed. Is he the good guy, is he the bad guy? There is quite a battle raging within his mind. I thoroughly enjoyed their interactions between him and Ivy. Some were quite comical other were quite hot in the unrequited department.




    The journey Ivy and Adrian take is a tumultuous one. Their race to save Ivy's missing sister takes quite a few interesting turns. The old adage of 'If at first you don't succeed, Try, try again' definitely comes into play. While others may find it repetitive and annoying, I thoroughly enjoyed all the challenges they faced. There's quite a few additional characters that I hope to see in future installments in this series. There is one in particular I will touch upon, Zach. I get angels, or in his case, Archons, can very blasé about the whole human coil. Ivy begins the story in Bennington, Vermont, the last location of her sister, Jasmine, before she went missing. As she checks out one of the town's Bed & Breakfast inns, what she thought was a hallucination turns out to be real. See, Ivy's had these visions all of her life and was told they were due to a brain disorder. Now she knows they are real after meeting a hunk named Adrian who seems to know a lot more about her than Ivy knows about herself. And, he's a bit other worldly himself. The race to find her sister is the catalyst for everything that happens going forward.The action starts literally from the first page and almost never lets up. Ivy and Adrian are interesting individually, as a team and as a couple. The romance is the weak aspect but it's in tandem with what's going on. The supporting characters are really, really good and I like the mythology and the created world. It's not perfect but I rolled through the book. I'm in for the next in the series. 

    10 out of 10 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Sat Aug 30 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    Can't wait for the next book.

    I love Jeanine Frost and have read all of her novels. This one was yet another book by her, I could not put down.
    I love the story line and chatacters. It is completely different from the other book with Cat and the side characters, yet equally entertaining.

    3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Sat Aug 30 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    I love YA paranormal.   This book is no exception.   Once I star

    I love YA paranormal.   This book is no exception.   Once I started, I started the day after it arrived on my front step, I could not stop.  I wanted to stay up all night and finish but forced myself to put it down and rest my eyes.   Yet, I woke up bright and early and first thing I did was pick it up and finish it!   Now I am left needing more.




    Ivy and Adrian had chemistry.  I was not sure from the beginning if this was a good thing or a bad thing.   I wanted it to turn out to be a good thing, but were they meant to be?   Can Adrian overcome his fate and be the guy that Ivy needs?    All these were questions that I knew I had to have the answer to.   I loved both these characters and knew that I had to find the answers to the questions I have and hope that the answers went the way I wanted them to.   




    Although Ivy was searching for her sister throughout the entire book, I enjoyed the storyline of Ivy and Adrian more.   I wanted Ivy to find her sister safely, but I wanted more of Ivy and Adrian.    As Ivy was searching for her sister in the different realms, I could picture the creatures they encountered and the worlds they were visiting.   The descriptions and graphics were absolutely perfect.  I love when a book plays like a movie in my mind as I am reading.




     Jeaniene Frost did an excellent job writing The Beautiful Ashes.  This is a series that I will be keeping an eye out for the rest of.   Anyone who loves the paranormal world should check this book out.  

    3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Mon Sep 15 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    I loved and enjoyed reading the suspenseful, extraordinary, amaz

    I loved and enjoyed reading the suspenseful, extraordinary, amazing & awesome, romantic story, The Beautiful Ashes, first book in a new series by the phenomenal Jeaniene Frost.
    Aria is looking for her sister, Jasmine, and finds out her hallucinations are really demon realms and her sister is stuck in one. Adrian, a hunky and sexy guy with super strength and powers helps her enter the demon realms to search for a hidden weapon that kills demons. Adrian continues to tell her not to trust him but Aria can't help falling for him.
    Read the outstanding, intriguing and captivating, highly recommended, wonderfully written love story of Aria and Adrian. I can't wait to read the thrilling second story in the series by the talented and incredible author, Jeaniene Frost.

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Mon Sep 08 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    I Also Recommend:

    If I could rate this book ten stars, I would!! Two thumbs WAY up

    If I could rate this book ten stars, I would!! Two thumbs WAY up...Jeaniene has done it again!! I loved the characters (especially Adrian!!), loved the action, the romance, and the humor (I was laughing out loud numerous times). I knew I should've waited longer to read it...but I couldn't resist!! And now I have to wait for the second book!! The suspense is killing me! I first fell in love with Cat and Bones, then Vlad and Leila, and now Ivy and Adrian! It was such an amazing, unique storyline and had many twists and turns. I liked that there wasn't a lot of characters to keep track of, and I became attached to them all! No matter what anyone says, this book was awesome, amazing, super good...ok you get it. Read it!! And all of Jeaniene Frost's other books!!

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Wed Sep 24 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    more from this reviewer

    I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Net Ga

    I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Net Galley for an honest review.




    I’m a huge fan of Ms. Frost’s Night Huntress series and when I saw this one come up for review over at Net Galley I had to request it. Let me just say up front, I did enjoy the book, my review might not sound like it, but I DID like it and will be continuing the series. This is a new series, a new world, and fans looking for something like Cat and Bone’s series may be disappointed as this book feels as if it is from a totally different author at times. Personally I feel it shows strength of an author to be able to change her style of writing while still delivering an entertaining read.




    Alright I get it, so why only three stars? Well this is a new series and I felt like there were some growing pains as Frost works things out. While reading this book I had no idea what level of audience it was aimed at. I thought it was going to be an Adult Fiction story, like the author shares on her website. However much of the book felt like it was Young Adult or this New Adult instead. It just didn’t feel like an Adult Novel.




    Another problem I faced was the lack of chemistry between Ivy and Adrian. There was this love you, hate you, love you, want to jump your bones, can’t get away from you fast enough mess, but little building of the bond between the two. I hope this changes in future books. I liked both Adrian and Ivy, but just didn’t like them as a couple. Maybe it was the lacking of a major steamy scene, lots of teasing, but no real action. The heat wasn’t there. This is part of what lead to the feel of it being a book aimed at a younger audience. This is a point where I missed the chemistry between Cat and Bones.




    So what did you like? I liked the set up of the world, just thought some of the characters need a little work. I loved this idea of a battle of Good vs. Evil where you are not really sure which side is which. I loved the twisted biblical history that sheds a new light on the roles of different figures in history and traditional roles of angels and demons. I also liked how Frost wasn’t afraid to go really dark in this story at times, and did so without going too graphic. I appreciated how it affected and changed Ivy, her responses to this new world felt authentic. There was some lighter, or clever, moments thrown in too. Much of the smart-ass humor was missing from this story that was present in Frost’s other series, but she managed to throw some in. I also liked Ivy’s integrity. We may question what side of the good/evil coin other characters fall on, but Ivy is firmly on the good side. She is tough and I expect good things to come from following her story.




    So if you decided to give this new series a go, put all your past perceptions of Ms. Frost’s works behind you. This is a new and different story that had tons of potential. I look forward to seeing where Frost takes us.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Mon Sep 22 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    These Ashes Are Truly Beautiful Um can I say that I LOVED The B

    These Ashes Are Truly Beautiful

    Um can I say that I LOVED The Beautiful Ashes!! I like to keep my reviews as spoiler free as possible but I will say this…Its about my most favorite things EVA!!! If you know me you can probably guess what that is. Any who I won’t come out and say it because it was a wonderful surprise while reading the book and I wan’t y'all to experience it as well. This is the first book I’ve read by Ms. Frost and it certainly wont be the last. I’m an insta fan and can’t wait to continue this series. 

    T-aken, Ivy has lost so much in the last few days of her life she will search and do what needs to be done in order to find her sister. 
    H-ope, coming across an older lady so seems kind is not at all what Ivy was hoping for. The shock of seeing her sister alerts Ivy as a threat now knowing her sisters location is only the beginning of her problems. 
    E-ncounter, meeting someone who calls to her every being isn’t what Ivy thought she would find in her hotel room. Adrian didn’t understand his reaction to Ivy he had orders to carry out and will take her to safety. 

    B-old, an officer who is not what he seems will shock Ivy into silence knowing her life is about to drastically change and needing answers going with Adrian is her only choice. 
    E-clipsed, fear will have to take a back seat Ivy needs answers. Adrian knows who to ask because he himself has a few questions. 
    A-nger, finding out who Ivy truly is brings a heavy cloud over Adrian’s head. Torn between what he knows he must do and what fate has always dictated Adrian lashes out at those nearest. 
    U-npredictable, having found out some answers Ivy still doesn’t know why Adrian’s moods shift with varying degrees and frequency. 
    T-rust, Ivy needs to find her sister and Adrian needs to fulfill his revenge working together is the only option these two have at the moment. 
    I-ntrusion, knowing they cannot acquire what they seek Adrian will in list the help of his trusted friends in order to escape once they have broken into the dark dimensions. 
    F-ighting, being lead by a higher calling everyone involved knows the risks of taking on pure evil. 
    U-nion, knowing who Adrian is and the fate everyone keeps labeling him with should prompt Ivy to run but something deeper calls to her soul. 
    L-ies, all of the pushing Adrian has inflicted on Ivy has been to protect her from him. Not wanting to give in but being caught in a moment of weakness unleashes something raw and deep out of his soul. 

    A-lone, being tested time and time again Ivy realizes what she must do and carries out her plans with pain but determination. 
    S-haken, finding the two things she has wanted most brings Ivy to her knees but in order to be successful she will have to face her worst nightmare. 
    H-ope, what Ivy thought to be betrayal turned into a sacrifice she would not accept. Fighting with all of her heart will prove to be her strongest weapon. 
    E-mbrace, knowing she reciprocates his feelings Ivy will fight till there is no strength remaining. Feeling Adrian’s arms around her fills her heart with new life. 
    S-ecrets, being kept in the dark has been par for the course but this last admission is too much knowing what she should have known all along Ivy will cast what her heart wants most aside and do what she must. 

    GAH! I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book this was soooooo good! Ms Frost’s pacing was great even though I guessed a couple of things before they happened it didn’t affect my love for this book. What a tragically great beginning to what I hope turns out to be an amazing new series. This one is definitely making my favorites list. I’d say it qualifies as a New Adult Paranormal. There wasn’t anything too steamy but there was a moment that I had to fan myself so I’d say 17+ but nothing too shocking. The chemistry between Adrian and Ivy is off the charts good! They are constantly fighting what they feel(for different reasons) but its an incredible rush anytime one of them breaks the others walls. *sigh the side characters were wonderful compliments to the storyline and fit marvelously. Get ready to devour this in one sitting, its that good! 
    My Rating
    4.5 Car Accident, B&B, Old Lady, Dirty Cop, Hooded Figure, Archon, Safety, Relic, History, Realms, Obsidiana, Demetrius, Boy, Axe, Cage, Hound, Zach, Jaz, Fulfilling a Destiny Love Filled Stars! I’m dying to get to the next one so I know you will too! This is making fav’s so I definitely recommend it!! Eeeeeep!

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Thu Sep 11 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    Great story.

    I really liked the story. Great book.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Fri Sep 05 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    When I found out that Ms. Frost was releasing a new book I was s

    When I found out that Ms. Frost was releasing a new book I was so excited. I mean who doesn't want more of her vampires? But then I read the blurb and wait a minute....there are no vampires in this book! Instead we have angels and demons. I read this book in one day and am eagerly waiting for the next in the series even though it'll be a year or so before it comes out. Ivy was probably my favorite under 25 heroine that I've read in awhile. She was equal parts scared spitless and incredibly strong willed. Adrian was a pretty strong alpha male that took time to warm up to, but was so worth the time. Can't wait to see where they go from here.

    Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.


    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Thu Sep 04 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    Great read, can not wait for the next book.

    Great read, can not wait for the next book.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Wed Sep 03 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    The Beautiful Ashes is a very unique story about love, trust, an

    The Beautiful Ashes is a very unique story about love, trust, and betrayal.  Jeaniene Frost delivers a lot of angst along with a little bit of spice in this read. 
    Jeaniene takes a biblical story that just about everyone knows and puts her own spin on it.  Remember David and Goliath?  Imagine being sent into the demon realm as the last living Davidian to steal the sling shot that was used to kill Goliath.  Jeaniene takes an ordinary girl and makes her extraordinary.  
    Ivy is just your regular girl next door trying to track down her twin sister Jasmine that had been missing for a few weeks.  Her parents were trying to do the same when they had a terrible car accident and their lives were lost.  Ivy is more determined than ever to find her sister after the accident.  She had a bad feeling that something was not quite right.  She had always been able to see things that others did not.  She never spoke of it because people would think she was crazy.  She never would have guessed that her ability to do so would be the thing that she needed to find Jasmine.
    Adrian is of Judas's line and knows that his destiny includes the betrayal of the last Davidian.  He was raised in the demon realm and when he found out all that he was missing out on, he was angry.  He hated that demons has tricked him for so many years into believing that the human realm was just as bad as the demon one.  The one thing that everyone could trust about Adrian was his hatred of demons.  
    When fates collide and Adrian is sent on a misson to help a young girl named Ivy escape the demons that are following her, you can only imagine how distruaght he becomes when he finds out she is the last Davidian.  As time passes it only becomes harder as Adrian finds himself falling in love with her.  He knows deep down his destiny is to hurt her so all he can do is force himself to stay as far away  from her as he possibly can.  
    Fate really sucks sometimes because Ivy finds herself so drawn to Adrian too.  She begins to believe that there is no way that he can betray her when he shows up time and time again and saves her.  But, when the time comes and Adrian is put in a compromising position will he save Ivy or himself?
    Jeaniene does an excellent job developing the characters in this story.  Ivy is smart and strong and readers will find that they can identify with her easily.  Adrian will steal your heart but also keep you wondering when the ball is going to be dropped.  If you like reads with a lot angst that keep you on the edge of your seat you will enjoy this read.  I really enjoyed the unique storyline that I could relate to being read the story of David and Goliath as a young child.  She really takes and puts an interesting twist on things and in the second book Ivy will be looking for a new weapon that is just as powerful as the sling shot. If you are looking for a new paranormal romance series this is it.  I am anxiously awaiting book two.  

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Tue Sep 02 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    another great book by Jeaniene Frost

    another great book by Jeaniene Frost

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    Ivy has always been different. She has visions of thins that jus

    Ivy has always been different. She has visions of thins that just can't be real.  Now her sister is missing and when she goes looking for her she finds out the truth. Her visions aren't fake they are real. She can see into another realm. Her sister is trapped there and she has to save her. She finds help in Adrian. Adrian knows all about the realm. It is where he was raised and where he walked away from. He and Ivy feel an attraction between them but they can't be together. He tries his best to help her find a relic that will enable her to take on the demons that have her sister. They both are heading into danger and falling in love just can't happen. Ivy has a lot to learn about who and what she is and the journey to find it is a dangerous one.




    Ivy s a wonderful character. When others would give up or go to the nut house she buckles down to save her sister. She sees other realms and what is in those realms would send a normal person screaming away. Not Ivy. She wants to know everything that has to do with what power she has and what is going on. She doesn't like secrets. Adrian seems moody at times. he has had a different upbringing than others and it has left his mark on him. He tries his best to resist anything to do with Ivy. Both are great characters with ties to an interesting history.




    I have to say this book turned out way different than what I thought it would. It was so much better! There is several twist i didn't even think of from reading the blurb and I love how the author twisted them in. This book is fast paced and you don't want to put it down for anything. You just keep wanting to read to see what next. I have to say Ivy does amazing at everything that is thrown at her. She has to do many things and change several times to reach her goal. Some of these changes are hilarious. While there is something between Adrian and Ivy for the most part they try to keep it under control. There is a lot of danger in this book and I loved seeing the different realm and creatures. I am now left with the impossible task of waiting for the next book. Something that is not easy to do as I love this world the author has create. I want to know what next. if you love a book with fabulous characters and a wonderful story line pick this one up!

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    Just ok

    Didn't love ir hate it

    1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Sat Aug 30 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    Ivy Jenkins always believed that her hallucinations weren't real

    Ivy Jenkins always believed that her hallucinations weren't real. Ivy's parents are dead and now searching for her sister Jasmine. Ivy looking but is coming up against roadblocks she didn't expect. Adrian is complete stranger to Ivy but neither of them can deny their attraction to each other. Between Adrian and Zach explain that Ivy's descendant of an ancient line that can stop the demons. Zach being Archon or angel isn't always completely forthcoming with information but then again neither is Adrian. Can Ivy trust either Adrian or Zach? Can Jasmine be saved? Your answers await you in The Beautiful Ashes.




    An intriguing start to this brand new series. I'm never disappointed in what Ms. Frost writes. I believe Ms. Frost has created another series worth reading. I thought the characters and story were well written. I look forward to the next installment. 

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Sat Aug 30 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    The Beautiful Ashes, Jeaniene Frost Review from jeannie zelos bo

    The Beautiful Ashes, Jeaniene Frost
    Review from jeannie zelos book reviews
    So, being a long time fan of Jeaniene's works I was so happy to see a new series beginning. The Night Huntress main series has recently finished, and though there's still one in a spin off to come ( the fabulous Night Prince novels..) I was hoping she'd have something new coming out. So – wow – was I pleased to get this!
    Anyway, as with Night Huntress, its straight in with the action and the story unfolds via text and dialogue. It's not vampires this time, but Demons and Archons – a kind of angel- and the last descendents of biblical characters. As with many fantasy series the fate of humanity hinges on the outcome and success of the characters. We meet Ivy, who's long learned to cover up her visions and pretend all is normal, now her sister is missing and her parents killed in an accident. Investigating her sisters disappearnace brings her into danger from the demons who want to kill her . Luckily there's help, an Archon who speaks in non helpful ways, and won't do anything to help except what his orders specify, and Adrian. He's seriously hot, but was raised by Demons. He knows more than he's willing to share though, and all he really says is very basic info and strong warnings that Ivy Must Not Trust him. He says its his fate to betray her...but as they get more and more into danger they get closer and closer...
    It's a very exciting read as always, with well plotted and executed actions. No quick new powers for Jeaniene, her characters are always solid and face danger with what we know they've got. The world setting is good, I like the idea of parallel worlds,and the way to get into the Demon Realm was solid. Adrian, well, I'm always smitten by the hunks in fantasy... and like Ivy I'm not fixed on fate controlling everything either. She believes he's really a good guy, and most of his actions confirm that – but then is his appearing good all part of some master plan? She's kind of in a rock and hard place situation, and thinking of what was happening to her, and what could/would be done, kept me working mentally through lots of scenarios – I like to be kept guessing, to not have everything playing out predictably. The attraction between her and Adrian is palpable, searingly sensual, but unlike other books she's written Jeaniene keeps them more or less still on the edge of atttraction, still dancing back and forth by the end of this book. Given all the “don't trust me” vibes from Adrian, and the “should I/shouldn't I” ones from Ivy that fits well. I hope they get closer in future novels though – I think they'll make a great pair, and Jeaniene is good as adding sex to stories without it dominating the plots.
    The book doesn't end on a cliffhanger, but is complete as far as this part of the search goes. It does leave the way clear for the next book in the series. All I can say now is I hope its not too long before book two :-)
    Stars: well after all that how could I give less than five, clearly a series to join my keepers files...
    ARC supplied by Netgalley and publishers.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Fri Aug 29 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    The Beautiful Ashes by Jeaniene Frost is the 1st book in her new

    The Beautiful Ashes by Jeaniene Frost is the 1st book in her new Broken Destiny series. I am a big fan of Jeaniene Frost and her Night Huntress/Night Huntress World/Night Prince series. The Beautiful Ashes is a different genre for Jeaniene, as it is listed as New Adult Paranormal.

    We meet our heroine Ivy at the start. Ivy’s world has fallen apart, as her parents were killed, with the funeral the following day. But Ivy’s sister is missing, and that becomes her priority. Ivy has had strange visions all her life, having doctors give her medicines for what was perceived as psychotic episodes, so going to the police is not an option, as no one will believe her. As far as they are concerned, her sister went away with her boyfriend. It doesn’t take too long as Ivy discovers those visions were actually real. In search for her sister, she will embark on an adventure out of her realm, into a dark and dangerous world of evil.

    Jeaniene Frost has done an excellent job of world building, which will include demon realms, angels, hounds, creatures, gargoyles, with the a storyline based on good vs evil. A nice historical twist, with Ivy being the last descendant of David, which makes her truly good, even if she knows nothing. Adrian is our hero, and he is the last descendant of Judas, which technically makes him bad, especially since he grew up in the demon realms. This is supposed to be a forbidden romance, but all is not as it seems. Adrian hates his demon background, which he ran away from, and now he helps Zach, an Archon (angel). But destiny stands in the way for Adrian and Ivy to have a true romance. She is the one who must stop demons, as she tries to rescue her sister, and he is the one who prophecy says will betray her.

    This is just the beginning, in what is a wild and at times very exciting storyline, which is spent mostly in the dangerous demon realms. Ivy and Adrian work together to find the weapon that will destroy the demons, at the same time looking for Ivy’s sister, who is held captive by demons. Adrian is hot, and at the same time secretive. Can he be trusted to help Ivy or will he end up betraying her.

    I liked Ivy, and sympathized with her trying to understand what was expected of her, as she was being thrown into a world she knew nothing about. All she wanted to do was save her sister, not to be the messiah. I thought Adrian was good and protective of Ivy, but I wasn’t crazy about all the secrets he and Zach were keeping from her. Sending her into a vicious world, that was dark and dangerous, wasn’t fair to her, as she was risking her life. Both Adrian and Zach needed some ass-kicking.

    I enjoyed this storyline, as it was somewhat different than other angel/demon storylines. There were some exciting scenes, and even some humorous ones, like when Zach glamoured Ivy, to hide her appearance. I liked Adrian, and he was swoonworthy; but his secrecy and moodiness drove me nuts at times. Poor Ivy. Though he was an angel, Zach, angered me even more, with with his inability to help Ivy and Adrian.

    The Beautiful Ashes is a nice world building, a romance we want to see more of, and so many possibilities for the continuation of this series. I will be continuing this series.

    1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Fri Aug 29 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    Now the book started out in a interesting way. The main characte

    Now the book started out in a interesting way. The main character shows up at a B&B to see if her sister stayed there the night before, except the hotel is really a place where demons capture humans and take them to another dimension. Ivy can see through demon masks and runs away. When she gets back to the hotel there is a guy waiting for her in her room who apparently looks like Thor (pic of Thor here). Now you know its gonna get interesting.
    One thing that I didn’t like was that supposedly the main characters parents died two days after her sister disappears. Now there was very little “OMG MY PARENTS ARE DEAD” going on with this character which I liked because sometimes its too much, but there was almost not enough. Now there is a time where she has a breakdown about her mom and dad, but its not till really late in the book. I feel like she should have had a breakdown earlier if we are going to have a breakdown. Also once she finds her sister, she doesn’t tell her about her parents. So this girl who has been in literal hell for weeks, doesn’t know her parents are dead yet and I am hoping we get to that in the second book, but it will be awhile till we find out since I am sure the next book won’t come out for probably another year. 
    Her sister is also supposed to have run away with a guy…where is this guy? Was he evil, or did he die? What is the story there? Nope, didn’t get it, and I doubt it will come up in the next book, which is disappointing. Its not a big deal, but still…the devil is in the details. 
    Another annoying thing is she escapes with her sister, then immediately goes back to save her man. It all seemed very short. It was cinematic in my head, but I didn’t like it in the actual book. I don’t know why. She was very irrational in this part and I wanted her to calm down. I know this may not make sense, but there was just something about that section that threw me off and I didn’t like. Does anyone know what it was? 
    Now this was supposed to be a NA book. The character is 20, there are some hotter scenes between the guy and girl, but still not a lot. Also those “hot scenes” aren’t really that ‘hot’. Disappointment was mainly the feeling after I finished. I wanted more, especially because they are supposed to be forming this ‘bond’, (which was never explained in my opinion) and I was just wanting a little more there as well. I mean you are around a guy who looks like Thor (except hotter) and you don’t jump his bones at all? Really? Ugh so frustrating. 
    I really liked the main character. She was really realistic. There was a over dramatic “No this isn’t real” going on , which seems to happen a lot and gets annoying sometimes. I really liked the writing. I thought it was well-written. I liked the characters, she also wans’t afraid to kill people. 
    I may seem like I didn’t like a lot of things, but that’s not true. I really liked our main guy and girl. I liked their whole relationship and wit against each other. Overall a good read and I will pick up the next one. The story was one of the more original ideas I have read. Overall I would give it 4/5 stars. 

    1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Wed Oct 08 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    loved reading this book can't wait for next one

    loved reading this book can't wait for next one

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  • Posted Sat Sep 27 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    OMG ! This was a perfect start to Jeaniene Frost's newest New Ad

    OMG ! This was a perfect start to Jeaniene Frost's newest New Adult series, Broken Destiny. Perfection. This story has an interesting take on the story of David and Goliath. I was skeptical at first, but I'm glad I read this and gave it a chance.

    The story begins with Ivy finding out that her sister is missing and her parents have died coming to look for her. She is determined to find her sister. She pulls up at a bed and breakfast where she has a vision of her sister, but she gets hit by the owner. She returns to her hotel room to find a mysterious young man awaiting her arrival. This mysterious man is Adrian. He saves her life from a minion and takes her back to Zach only to find out that things are more than they seem and Ivy has bargained for more than she can handle. From there the stories goes into a world of Archons (angels), demons, realms and bloodlines of David and Goliath (can't explain too much without spoiling the story for you all).

    Jeaniene has created some outstanding characters with very realistic attitudes and personas. Ivy is a sort of shy girl, but when you push her buttons she becomes confident and bold without question; she sort of believes everything is good. Adrian is the good guy with a dark, dreary past that has complicated his future and he just doesn't see a way to beat his odds until it's too late. Demetrius is the evil foster-father that has kept secrets only to turn his foster son against others. Zach is the secretive opt guy who does as he says and answers questions to T.

    The world building was outstanding. I felt like every demon realm Ivy entered I was sucked into it. I never thought a demon realm would be cold, but as I read this book I shivered in my sheets just thinking about what Ivy felt like in the realms. Even the minions, demons and creatures drew me into the realms.

    The romance between Ivy and Adrian was perfect. A forbidden love between two people from opposite bloodlines couldn't be more perfect. It was a seesaw of emotions. Ivy wanted Adrian, but he pushed her away. At the end Adrian wanted her, but she pushed him away. I can't wait to see how the romance plays out for them.

    Zach was annoying to me. It's like he knew so much and could help, but didn't because he was following orders or looked at Ivy and Adrian as pawns. It pissed me off. I feel like he should have been like Castiel from Supernatural and said "f*ck these rules" -- I'm just saying. Demetrius just upset my thoughts and stomach. He was a spiteful demon … more like the devil himself.

    The ending wasn't really a cliffhanger, but I felt like Adrian and the Archons betrayed Ivy equally. They way she pushed Adrian away killed me to pieces. I just can't even really think about it!

    I thoroughly enjoyed this book to a T. Every page, word and sentence was gripping. I was sucked into this book and couldn't put it down. I'm excited to get my hands on the sequel!

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