Cordelia has never known anything but the safety of her fathers guarded compound where she’s lived her entire life. A life that, as the alphas daughter, has always been a privileged one, albeit an incredibly sheltered one.Until one night, life as she knows it, is flipped entirely upside down when she’s promised to another alpha in order to buy safety for her father’s pack. This doesn’t exactly … exactly sit well for Cordelia seeing as she has different plans for her life, even if she doesn’t know what those plans are just yet. Out of fear of what she doesn’t want her life to become, she does the unthinkable and tells her father the one thing he’ll never tolerate from anyone in his pack, especially not his daughter. She tells him no.
As a result, Cordelia learns just what kind of depraved man and alpha her father is and is left a broken, bleeding mess because of it.
After finding kindness and compassion from two strange men who show up at the compound and help her when she is no longer capable of helping herself, Cordelia does the only thing she thinks she can do in order to survive and not be stuck in a world of abuse and misery.
She runs.
Unfortunately for Cordelia, she doesn’t make it very far before she finds herself in trouble again and at the mercy of another male with alpha tendencies. This alpha also comes with a brother by blood and one by choice.
The problem is, Cordelia’s not so sure she could ever find a place in a pack again after everything she’s survived. She won’t have long to figure it out though because, no matter the cost, her father is determined to find her and bring her home.
Warning – Due to certain sensitive sexual subject matter and abusive situations, this book may contain triggers for some people.
It’s also a Reverse Harem book.
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I received a copy of this book from the author for an honest review.
I had to take a few minutes to let this book really sink in. Some scenes were hard to read and had me fighting mad. Ok so let me start with WOW!!! The beginning of this book tore me up. Really how cold can a family be especially a father? What Cordelia had to endure should have broken her but she is one strong woman that can pick herself up and keep going. Everyone she thought loved her or at least cared about her let her down in a BIG way. Her saving grace was the two strangers who were alpha wolves who helped her when she was at her lowest. After all she endured how could she trust these strangers. After the last blow of having a door slammed in her face she was done and going to set out on her own. She would trust no one and rely only on herself. The alphas that found her Luca and Cal knew she was theirs and was so disappointed when the realized she was not going to meet up with them like she said.
OH MY GOD lets talk about Darius because I’m all about this tormented scared soul. He is Luca and Cal’s brothers and when he realized Cordelia was special to them he had stop her when he realized she was going to run. Well he put an end to that really quick and took her when she tried to run. Yep that’s one way to stop her. His plan was to take her back to his family home and have the brothers meet up with them. I fell in love with Darius really the like/hate between Darius and Cordelia was off the charts for sure. One of my favorites was in the gas station all I can say is I loved that cane wielding grandma.
Even though I love Darius there is something about Callum that interest me but I have not got a good feel for Luca yet. All three have strong feelings for their Cordelia and would protect her with their life. Cal and Luca want time with Cordelia like Darius had but they know they need to have patients with Cordeli and give her the space she needs right now.
Everything Cal, Luca and Darius has done up to this point to protect themselves and Cordelia is going to catch up with them. Let me tell you it is going to get ugly and messy. I suppose we will see who will stand by the brothers and Cordelia and who will betray them because oh yes there will be some traders. Callum, Luca, Darius and Cordelia will need to be on the same page to withstand what is coming their way.
Dark(Trigger Warning). Paranormal. Rh. 3 Alpha Wolf Shifters. Mate bond. In this shifter world women are just possession and tools for the male wolves. Cordelia knows that even if she’s the Alpha’s daughter she is not an exception, that she’ll be sold off the a Alpha of her father’s choosing but she doesn’t have to just be ok with it. So when her father tells her it’s time, she argues that they could find another way, one where she’s not going to the hands of a rumored to be cruel Alpha. She only finds hers with bruises and scars that will never heal. This starts off super dark (I almost threw up, dark). Cordi is a bit naive(which is to be expected) but she is super smart and very insightful. There is a sight insta-bond going on with all of them. Cordi is also very open with how she’s feeling (it might just be with Darius, well see). They guys are awesome. With the bond they are super protective. I’m definitely looking to this series.
This seems to be a bit different direction now for this author with her novels. I do love a good paranormal and this is what is given to us readers with this one. This centers around Cordelia with her attaching herself to us when she her world changes. She pulls us through some pretty tough situations ones that will also leave her in a dark place. Then there is those whom cross her path and things change once again. She is one that will show you just how strong someone can be that this author gives us through her. The guys are the spice in this with them giving this one well rounded road that has us staying on it waiting for some more.
110%, Absolutely, Definitely, Most Assuredly, Without No Doubts Whatsoever “MY CUP OF TEA”!!!Ashes: Book One in the River Ash Pack
I LUCKING FOVED IT!!
The only thing I could have possibly asked for was MORE…
The things that Cordelia had to endure and overcome would have broken just about anyone. But there she was trying to be the best person she could be, and even gave those nasty mean girls the benefit of the doubt to only be backstabbed and hurt yet again.
Man oh man then we have Darius, Luca, and Callum who so became her knights in not so shiny armor. They never once doubted that she was theirs or that they would do everything they could to protect her.
I can’t wait to see what happens with this awesome foursome in the next book.
So in my humble opinion if you are a fan of he Paranormal Reverse Harem Genre this book is a definite MUST READ!!
So like I said in the very beginning, this book was 110%, Absolutely, Definitely, Most Assuredly, Without No Doubts Whatsoever “MY CUP OF TEA”, Hell I think it’s even my dang gallon of tea!!
Wow what a brilliant story, the world building the character depth, the dark elements, the angst, the drama and the overall story will suck you in, keep you hooked and leave you wanting more.
The strength of these characters is awe inspiring, the dark traumatic events that Cordelia, Darius, Callum and Luca have all been through (each of them dealing with different dark pasts and events that have damaged them in some way or another) leaves them all broken and shattered in some way or another but they find the strength to get back up and move forward and find a way to live.
If you love shifters, a strong heroine, protective and caring Alpha males, dark and gritty stories then I seriously recommend picking this up and reading.
Before I start my review please read the trigger warnings in the blurb. With that being said ….I love this so much. Cordelia goes through some soul breakingly traumatic events before meeting her mates. Her father, the alpha of the pack, is an evil man and he got what was coming to him in the end and her little brother was no better. Her mates have their own abusive and heart wrenching pasts to contend with too. They are all broken in some way. I really like how Delia doesn’t let her past break her and that she is getting stronger in her own way from it. Darius is my favorite right now, Luca and Callum are awesome too but there is something about Darius and his relationship with Delia that is breath taking. I’m so glad that Mary decided to do more then 1 book for their story because I definitely want more. I want to see how they will put together the splintered pack and I want to see Delia’s and Luca and Callum’s relationships grow. This book is beautifully and creatively written and I can’t wait to see where it goes from here.
This was a great start to a series, lots of plot set-up, amazing characters and for me some crazy damaged sexy alphas and I can’t wait to get me some more Darius, Valium and Luca. Cordelia you are very lucky for sure. Can’t wait for what’s to come!
YES!! Cordelia is one seriously amazing woman. Mary Martel always has me girl crushing on her female leads. But Darius and Callum are seriously straight out of my fantasy man playbook. All dark and brooding, mean and surly, full of dark past hurts and not afraid to get violent and dirty when needed, but sweet and caring to their lady love. Yup, I’m all over that likes bees and honey! Then there is Luca, poor sweetheart Luca, he’s a softy but he’s also got that hard edge. These characters are perfect! Mary had me sucked into this story from the VERY start, I cried, I laughed and I got all the warm fuzzy, mushy feelings too. Cordelia goes through one of the most horrific experiences anyone could ever endure, then ends up on one hell of an adventure that has her questioning herself. The way she grows as a character through the story was absolutely beautiful to read and I can not wait for the next book!
This book has popped up in my recommendations for awhile now so I finally decided to give it a shot. I really liked it. It a reverse Harem so if you don’t like multiple hot guys and one almost broken heroine I wouldn’t read this book.
The Alphas in this book, well what can I say but they truly are alpha-holes but when the h doesn’t let her emotions get in the way the behavior is honestly about protecting her.
I know some people don’t like insta-love and such but these are wolf shifters and their primal instincts call out first before the human has the chance to catch up.
The book is well written and flows nicely. For the most part the story, characters, universe building is nicely done. I really want to read the 2nd book of this dualogy.
Last disclaimer: physical and emotional triggers.
Definitely triggers but it is written well. I truly like the MC. Interested ti find out who the traitor in the pack is and to watch the relationships develop. Love Darius and watch him come out of his shell and also how Delia’s relationship with the pack emerges. Ready for book 2