From Ashes: A Passionate College Romance About Craving the Forbidden and Finding Courage to Love

For anyone who sees that I gave this book 5 stars and says "Seriously, 5 stars?!" Yes, it seriously deserves 5 stars! I read Taking Chances a few months back and fell in love with the book. So when I found out Molly had a new book coming out, I had to read it. I pre-ordered From Ashes weeks ago and finished it in one day. I honestly loved, LOVED the book and easily fell in love with the main characters. While Taking Chances was an amazing read, you can tell Mollys writing style has improved with this book and it makes the story even more descriptive an amazing. The three main characters Gage, Cassi, and Tyler are all very believable and relatable. Their love triangle is not the typical one because of their intertwining relationships, but that's what makes it interesting. Tyler and Cassi are best friends and have been for years, but while usually it is the girl who is secretly in love with her best friend, in From Ashes it is Tyler who is in love with Cassi and has been for years. Saying Cassi had a rough childhood is a severe understatement. Tyler was always the person who she turned to when she needed anything. When Tyler takes her away from the hell she has grown up in and brings her to Texas with him, she expects to start a new life and Tyler expects this new life will involve finally being with Cassi they way he's always dreamed. When Cassi meets Gage, Tylers cousin, everything changes. Their love story is not typical, which was probably my favorite part of the book. They go through obstacles that would usually tear couples apart. Including Tylers medaling, Cassi's reluctance to discuss and move on from her nightmare childhood, an unexpected death (but don't worry, for anyone who read Taking Chances, there is not another Chase moment in this book), and a mystery man who is to good looking for his own good and refuses to just let Cassi walk about of his life without a fight. While I have read other reviews where they said the story just went on and on, I don't agree with that at all. Instead of just the usual plot line (girl meets boy, girl falls in love, boy and girl date, boy does something stupid so girl leaves him, girl eventually comes back and life is perfect) there were twists and turns that had me anxious to read the next page. I literally could not put this book down until I was done. It really is that good! For anyone who wants a love story that is more about figuring out who you truly are than just the normal run of the mill love story, then From Ashes is for you. With points of view from Cassi and Gage, you see both sides of their story and will be wanting them to be together at times, and then other times you will want to slap some sense into both of them. Molly McAdams does not disappoint with her sophomore book, and I think we can be expecting to read great things from her for years to come.

Molly has once again delivered an emotional roller coaster book for her readers. We meet Cassidy, Tyler and Gage. Ty and Cassi are best friends and for 11yrs he has been her rock and her doctor when she needed patching up after being extremely physically abused by her mum and step dad. A month shy of her 18th birthday Ty packs her stuff and they drive from California to Texas where he is to live with his cousin Gage whilst he goes to college. Cassi is mentally, physically and emotionally dependant on Ty in nearly every aspect of her life and whenever something goes wrong she runs to him until she meets Gage. Upon first setting eyes on each other, Gage and Cassidy are drawn to each other but it takes nearly 2 yrs for them to realize they both feel exactly the same thing as the other. Lack of communication and Ty's constant meddling sees them in a love hate relationship which breaks both their hearts. While I found the book was drawn out in some aspects I still felt that I just couldn't put it down and all the in depth scenes and added characters throughout the book gave me a better understanding of what they were all going through and showed such strength in their characters. It followed a predictable plot but still had the ability to catch me unguarded with the way the story progressed. At times I felt so frustrated and angry, especially with Cassi for her immature reactions to situations and her blank stare. I wanted to belt Ty so hard over the head at many points from his so called love for Cassi whilst blatantly disregarding what she wanted and how she felt and Gage just made my heart melt he was what I would picture a perfect boyfriend to be and it broke my heart each time Cassi went to Ty. If you have read Taking Chances by Molly McAdams you will enjoy this love triangle as well. However I am pleased to tell you it won't leave you with an ugly tear streaked face from an out of nowhere twist you didn't see coming. I was so please with the ending and loved that the book title reflected the main storyline and came from Cassi's mum who managed to help heal Cassi and in my eyes slightly redeemed herself from her actions even though it was to little too late. A Phoenix will rise from ashes and rebirth a new life just like Cassi does. I highly recommend you take the time to read the book it's brilliant!!!!!!!!!

As a Texan, and college austinite, I loved the setting of the story hard-core. But in review of the story itself, Ms McAdams has created yet another wonderful story that can be read and enjoyed by so many. I loved Taking Chances but usually one book is not enough for me to say an author is wonderful...Molly however is! I wish she had a thousand books written because I would read every one of them! The characters were WONDERFULLY developed, nothing about the story was rushed at all, and the progression of events was 100% natural! Cassidy and Gage moved at a perfect pace, and while I hated Ty in the beginning I always understood his heart and why he did and said what he did (except the Cara incident...that was completely unacceptable). This book didn't knock you out as emotionally as Taking Chances did, but I was perfectly okay with that! I cried at the letter and I was so glad not to have my heart broken during the book. Now I really enjoyed the book, and I would say my actual rating is just over a 4, I am hard on books and there was just that last little spark of something I needed to say it was a 5 star knock out. Please don't ask me what was missing though, because the story was absolutely full and had all the information and answers that it needed and should have had, I just didn't get that intense feeling of 'OMG I'm not going to be able to sleep because I will be thinking about this for hours' after I finished it. I've already recommended this though to a number of people that I know will enjoy it, and I can't wait for the next Molly McAdams book because you can be certain I will be reading it the day it comes out just like I did with this one!!

This was an amazing novel, i am so happy that i went a head and ordered it. BEST BOOK EVER

I absolutely loved 'From Ashes', it is easily the best book that I have read from the 'Young Adult' genre. It has everything that I want in a romance and then some. Our hero, Gage, is magnificent! Not the usual promiscuous bad boy, he is very sweet and romantic, while still having a bit if a bad boy edge. The plot of the story is great and handles the topic of abuse perfectly; sensitively and well researched. I did feel a tad frustrated with our heroine Cassidy at some points, but isn't the point of a great novel to stir up your own emotions. I have to admit that my favourite part of this novel was that we got see and read through part of their happy ever after. So many stories end just as it all come good for them and I'm always left wanting more. I loved that we were taken past that point and got a glimpse at what they had to come. An easy 5 stars from me!

I loved this book. I was totally hooked from the first chapter. Cassidy Jameson is such a strong girl, to come through the abuse she suffered from her Mother & stepfather, to be such a beautiful loving woman. Her best friend Tyler takes her away to Texas, where she meets & falls in love with Gage, a sexy, strong man, who adores her from the first meeting. Cassidy & Gage go through an awful lot of heartache & interference from Tyler, but finally make it together A really lovely and emotional story. Molly McAdams has such a beautiful writing style, it is so easy to get swept up with her characters & stories. I have loved all 3 that I have read so far. I rate this a 10 out of 10 and cant wait to read more from her.

I did enjoy this book. Good romance. The girl is a bit of a mans dream though! She cooks, cleans, has no career plans. Watches sport with the boys and has a body like Cheryl Cole. Slightly unbelievable to me but loved the hero! The heroine was a little too distracted by other men. Was the policeman subplot necessary?

I love this book so much. I thought it was an amazing read and is now one of my favourite books. Cassidy and Gage's story is so innocent that it pulled at my heart when things tore them apart. I loved how the writer was able to fit so many different aspects into the story just enough that she didn't over do it. I love how she showed both of their sides to the story so as to give the reader a wider perspective to their world's. I thought the plot was great and original. I thought the way she made Cassidy be so strong yet with all the abuse in her life very interesting. I loved that even though Cassidy had troubles with trust she managed to learn and gain that trust back. I thought how she made Gage to be this sweet and loving guy but could could throw a punch or two if need be smart as it made his character more believable. All in all I'm just totally in love with this book and will still love it in years to come.