Phoenix /fēniks/: (in classical mythology) a unique bird inhabiting the Arabian Desert that burned itself on a funeral pyre before rising from the ashes with renewed youth to live through another cycle.This isn’t mythology, it’s war, and Hendy is left in the hands of Hell’s cruelest gatekeepers.His team is killed before his very eyes, and despite his efforts to save them, he’s captured and … his efforts to save them, he’s captured and subjected to merciless torture—losing virtually every piece of his identity but his pulse.
After his rescue, he returns home from Afghanistan, saddled with facing the daunting task of healing his physical scars as well as the invisible ones—his emotional demons.
Dr. Presley Cole isn’t one to shy away from a challenge. Embarking on a new journey, she makes it her mission to prove to Hendy that his life isn’t over; that he’s worthy of love.
Because sometimes even a phoenix needs help to rise…Out of the Ashes.
**Out of the Ashes is a full-length, standalone novel that does NOT need to be read in conjunction with any other book. **
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How does a good-looking soldier who never lacked for female company deal with coming home scarred? How does a smart, beautiful doctor convince him he is beautiful when she doesn’t think the same of herself? How far will love take them?
I absolutely love stories of scarred heroes and the strong women who love them. Presley is strong and smart but has never had a guy see her as beautiful and really sexy. Hendy has had women want to be with him for his looks but has never had a woman see him as gorgeous down to his soul. Presley and Hendy are so perfect together. I loved how their story unfolded and that there was a magic fix to the issues they were facing. This was my first book by R.C. Boldt but it will definitely not be my last! With sweet and sexy, pain and promise, Out of the Ashes is an amazing 5 star read!
Phoenix rising from Ashes… with a twist of Beauty and the Beast .. as I think 😉
Hendy was a veteran who was living the nightmare from the past.. broken.. hurt.. losing himself to the pain.. he was a total mess..
Presley is a strong woman who were stuck in a boring relationship…
The relationship evolved slowly.. funny with the trivia.. sexy as when people are falling in love..all the stomach butterfly…
Hendy was struggling hard with his journey to made peace with his past. This is a story about a man who rediscover himself 😉 a second chances to be happy and loving himself 🙂
Can we talk about that man’s abs for a second?!!? Shew. *fans self* Oh, right, we’re here for Hendy’s story… I have been anxiously awaiting this book! And RC brought her A-game on this book. It was freaking fantastic! I loved watching Hendy get acclimated back into the world but while he wanted people to think he was ok, he was lying to himself and others and struggled with life. He wasn’t the same man he’d been going into war and this book was his journey. I thought RC captured it very well. Luckily for him, he had a great support system and had tons of friends looking out for him. It was a slow process and such a sweet and heartfelt story. I loved the pieces he shared with Presley and enjoyed their banter and their chemistry!
Hendy has been through a traumatic experience; he’s not the same man he was going into the military. He’s comfortable around his friends, but not in the public eye. He still has quite a bit of pain and has to work on his emotional self to completely heal. However, he hasn’t found anything that works. My heart completely went out to Hendy. RC writes in such a way the reader feels his pain and feels for what the man had to endure. I LOVED the friendship between Hendy and Presley. I enjoyed the fact that they had to start out that way and little by little he started chipping away at her, but that wasn’t his motive. He was truly an upstanding guy. It’s no wonder he charmed the ladies! But get ready for ALL THE FEELS in this book! It was sad, sweet, endearing, sexy and OH-SO-GOOD! I couldn’t get enough of Hendy and Presley and I can’t recommend this book enough! Go get your copy today!
I knew I was going to love Hendy when I read Out Of Love (Book #1) but you know, I just didn’t expect this. I actually had no words after I’ve finished this book and even now I struggle with finding the right ones. But you know what? I think it’s not always necessary to write a ton of words especially when you love a book so much that you tend to rave about it without making much sense to people that haven’t read the book yet.
So I’ll just say a few things and hope you will pick up this book because it’s one of my favorites from this author and definitely a must re-read for me.
The Story:
Hendy and his team got ambushed. He was the only one to survive just to get captured and tortured.
Now he’s been rescued but that doesn’t necessarily mean that he is fine or safe from his demons. Because Hendy had always been the pretty boy and it had never lacked him in female company. It’s all the more harder for him now to deal with the visible scares on his body but also with the invisible ones – his emotions and memories of what happened.
Dr. Presley Cole knows she can help Hendy despite people saying that chiropractors or naturopathic doctors aren’t real doctors. Turns out though, that she can help him in more ways than what he signed up for at her office. But is Hendy ready for it?
Thoughts:
This was my third book by this author and although I loved the other ones too, this one’s so far the best.
I absolutely loved reading about Hendy’s way to recovery which wasn’t easy – neither for him nor for me. I was deeply moved by a few things written in this book but I can’t mention them as to not spoil anything.
This book made me laugh a lot of times but it also brought me to tears with the depth and meaning behind this story. At least that’s what I think, that there’s a message for each and every one. Enjoy life. Try your best to deal with whatever life throws at you. Love with all you have to give and be thankful.
I’m such a sappy person. There are sadder books out there but I just got so emotional with Hendy’s story. I live in a country where we don’t have Navy Seals or any real kind of military. We would so go down when it’d come down to it. Anyway, I might not be American but I still am human and deeply grateful for those that save people and risk their own lives for others. And I’m a romantic and love any kind of heroes =)
Sorry for my rambling, back to the book…
The romance in this story was more like a slow burn which was understandable because of Hendy’s situation but there was still lots of sexual tension and I absolutely loved it!! Especially Hendy’s most perfect answer to the question if he’s ever been in love. *sigh* Curious?! Read the book!! =P
Lucia added some quirkiness into the lot and you might not believe it but Kane had some really deep moments and was a great help for Hendy. I can’t wait for Kane to have his own story. I hope at least he gets one because I’m sure it will be hilarious.
Out of the Ashes can be read as a standalone. However I’d say you better read Out of Love first because not just is it a really good book, but you’ll also get to know some characters better which will also appear in this book.