Made the Grade: Ashes by Sarah Gilman

- This is an ARC book - Available Formats through Amazon.com: Kindle Edition - File Size: 200 KB | Expected Release Date: December 30, 2013 | Publisher: Entangled Publishing : Covet | Obtained: NetGalley

"Ashes" by Sarah Gilman

Author's Book Description : Accidents happen for a reason...

Journalist Ambrosia Pellerin accepts an assignment involving the legendary phoenix, expecting, if nothing else, a little entertainment. Instead, she winds up pregnant—by a surprisingly human-looking firebird, Reece Bennu.

As the Phoenix prince, Reece is next in line to the throne and expected to marry a purebred royal. A common human such as Ambrosia is not in the cards. He swears, though, he’ll never be an absentee father.

As Ambrosia’s due date grows closer, so do the soon-to-be parents. But will their tentative love survive the prejudice of Reece’s grandmother, who will stop at nothing to tear the two apart?

My Book Review : 3 out of 5 stars, two people unite in an unexpected and unpredictable way, and then they try to navigate around the multitude of complications that arise from the fallout...

At first, I wasn't sure about the way Ambrosia and Reece's lives get together, as it is out of the ordinary in ways that make you second-guess what you're reading in the novel. In addition, you will probably only enjoy this novel if you just go with the flow and have an open mind, as I did. Nevertheless, it was fun falling into Ms. Gilman's "firebird world" and maneuvering through the nuances of it all.

I did like Ambrosia and Reece as a couple. Yet, I wasn't completely happy with the way that the plot flowed. I mean this novel went from one worry (an obsessed person trying to find out more about firebirds) straight to another (Ambrosia getting involved into Reece's world and all that implies) without, really, any resolutions for the first worry, I mean what happened with that guy.

Overall though, I did enjoy how this novel wraps up, it was very sweet.

I recommend this novel to anyone who has an open mind and enjoys paranormal romances!

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Book Teaser(s) :

A large gathering of civilians knelt nearby—not their typical behavior at the sacred sight. Usually, they prayed alone or in small groups at the Tree’s roots and offered gifts, such as herbs and flowers and hair clippings and wine, and left. What on earth was going on?
Ambrosia, Celeste, and William stood closer to the Tree, beneath a low branch covered in pale green, fresh leaves and white flowers.
He froze and gooseflesh covered his arms.
Join us, a ghostly voice, the perfect blend of masculine and feminine, whispered into Reece’s mind. The Tree.
He shook his head and murmured, “Why have you done this?”
Why not? The Tree sounded hurt.
“I’ve just met this woman, for one thing.”
And you’ve done nothing but think about her since the moment you first saw her—not just the pregnancy, but her hair and the little mole on her earlobe and the feisty way she never backs down—
“Make your point.”
You know what your problem is? You don’t care that she’s human, but all you think about is that you can’t have her, that you need to hold out for a phoeness. Now, even a pureblooded phoeness will kneel before Ambrosia. You should be thanking me. Ingrate.
“Almighty weed.” Reece sighed. “Infatuation doesn’t necessarily grow to become more.”
You’ve been infatuated a hundred times. This is vastly different.
“Of course it is. She’s carrying my child.”
It’s more than that. You’ll see in time.
Reece crossed the clearing and wrapped an arm around Ambrosia. After a nod to William and Celeste, they backed off and disappeared down the path toward the house. The kneeling citizens got to their feet and also retreated, leaving Reece and Ambrosia alone. Well, as alone as it got beneath the limbs of a Tree that fancied itself a matchmaker. ~ within Chapter 14

For more information on this book and/or any other books by Sarah, then please check out her website.