Start reading From Ashes to Honor: Book #1 in the First Responders series on your Kindle in under a minute. Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here.

Deliver to your Kindle or other device

 
 
 

Try it free

Sample the beginning of this book for free

Deliver to your Kindle or other device

Read books on your computer or other mobile devices with our FREE Kindle Reading Apps.
From Ashes to Honor: Book #1 in the First Responders series
 
 

From Ashes to Honor: Book #1 in the First Responders series [Kindle Edition]

Loree Lough
4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)

Print List Price: £9.99
Kindle Price: £5.73 includes VAT* & free wireless delivery via Amazon Whispernet
You Save: £4.26 (43%)
* Unlike print books, digital books are subject to VAT.

Formats

Amazon Price New from Used from
Kindle Edition £5.73  
Paperback £8.99  


Product Description

Product Description

If he had only answered that last phone call from the World Trade Center . .
.

Minutes before two jumbo jets changed U.S. history,
New York police officer Austin Finley ignored the call from his brother, who’d been bugging him
for days. Trying to live with his one regret causes hatred and bitterness to consume Austin, and
when counselor Mercy Samara recommends desk duty, Austin resigns. Haunted by her own memories of
9/11, Mercy takes a job as a school counselor in Baltimore. When Austin, now an EMT, responds to
an emergency at Mercy’s school, both are stunned and wary.

Finally
their common—and painful—memories turn suspicion into friendship, then romance.


But hard questions linger: Can they truly move beyond their past harsh judgments
and harsh words? Will their past finally bring them closer or—as the tenth anniversary of 9/11
draws near—drive them farther apart?

"Loree Lough proves once again her
superb storytelling skills in From Ashes to Honor, peopled by characters so
lifelike they seem to jump from the pages."
>—Cathy Bryant, author of the award-winning Texas
Roads
and A Path Less Traveled

"Loree
Lough’s characters allow us to re-explore what happened ten years ago and examine our feelings,
perhaps like never before."
Rev.
Robert A. Crutchfield, Founder, Christ 4responders and Chaplain, Katy, Texas Fire &
EMS

Product details

  • Format: Kindle Edition
  • File Size: 585 KB
  • Print Length: 336 pages
  • Publisher: Abingdon Press (1 Sep 2011)
  • Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B005FQKKXG
  • Text-to-Speech: Enabled
  • X-Ray: Enabled
  • Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #322,388 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  •  Would you like to give feedback on images?


More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, and more.

What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?


Customer Reviews

5 star
0
3 star
0
2 star
0
1 star
0
4.0 out of 5 stars
4.0 out of 5 stars
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars Book Review 12 Feb 2013
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Really good plot; had me enthralled right from the start. A beautiful story about a man and a woman, both scarred from their history, who are brought together through a tragedy but live it out, fall in love... one becomes a Christian and through this is able to find eternal comfort and get a grip on his life, recovering from being an alcoholic through the help of good friends - and Mercy, though that is another thread in the story! Although he leaves his job as a fireman he becomes an ER nurse. He really is a brilliant, lovely person and i don't blame Mercy for falling in love with him! He's not the preachy sort either, but he's firm and perfectly convicted. Mercy too has evils in her life... Austin becomes a rock for her, but she's never comes round to Christianity which is my only regret with the book - it doesn't end as i think it should!
Full of vivid chatacters that make the story - Austin's lovliness, Mercy's beauty and kind character, Leo's light heartedness, Flora's determination and faith in her battle against cancer; they overcome heartache, happiness, lonliness,shaken faith, confusement, laughter and love; true-life emotions. None of this fantasy stuff - they go through what we all do. Brilliant read, recommend it to all.
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com: 3.5 out of 5 stars  101 reviews
47 of 47 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars A great read with both realism and heroism... 8 Aug 2011
By jljn - Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
From Ashes to Honor by Loree Lough has excellent characterization, an interesting plot, and a strong, faith-based message. It was an interesting, enjoyable, easy read. It left me with hope for Austin, Bud, and Flora and an understanding of the struggles faced by Mercy, Griff, and Cora. However, though the characterization was excellent, the plot at times seemed very slightly under-developed by comparison, especially considering the main hero was an EMT, the heroine was attacked, and two other minor characters (Flora and Griff) faced similar crises.

In the introduction, Loree explains that she seeks to illuminate and praise the heroism, faith, and strength of the first responders of September 11, and all first responders since. This, she does, and she does it well through her depiction of Austin, one of the two main characters. Hero Austin, though challenged by all he has faced, is invincible, strong, and stalwart--honorable and admirable because of the issues he has overcome. Austin's struggle and strength after September 11th were poignant, heart-warming, touching, and inspiring. They teach the reader much about what it means to be a Christian and face incredibly painful circumstances beyond our control yet to hold fast to our convictions and faith. They teach us about real life issues, such as regrets that cannot be righted, grief, doubt, alcoholism, and burdensome obligations. And Austin's struggle ultimately, with the ending, reminds us that peace and resolution comes only from once source--God.

However, after the tragedy of September 11th, certain elements of this book compound tragedy upon tragedy lacking resolution, especially for Dr. Mercy Samara. Was it a well-written, good book? Yes. But was I satisfied with the ending? No. I was surprised when I realized I was on the last page. I thumbed backwards to see if I had skimmed over a paragraph and missed some essential resolution. I thumbed forward to the preview of the next book in the series to see if Lough would pick up where this book ends (it does not seem that she does). I went back to the introduction to read again what Lough's purpose in writing this book was. And I immediately began to list out in my head all of the elements of the plot that prevented a resolution that spoke of hope, comfort, and love for Mercy. There were many, and the plot seemed a bit unfair to Mercy.

Does the book portray real life, regardless of how things end? Yes. Should ultimately our peace stem from God and our divine romance with Him? Yes. Shouldn't I be accepting of a hero who chooses God above all else? Yes. Was the plot Biblical and full of truth in every aspect? Yes. Yet what would have been a five star read became something a bit less for me. What was lacking was resolution of Mercy's story and hardships. Her resolution didn't have to be happy, it didn't have to be what I would have chosen, but she needed to be given relevance and consideration. Because she was a prominent character, I felt like she deserved a more substantial role in the ending. Her feelings toward her mother and even her attackers were never re-visited in the book.

All in all, however, a good read that lacks a resolute ending.
35 of 36 people found the following review helpful
1.0 out of 5 stars What??? 14 Jan 2012
By Verity Wilson - Published on Amazon.com
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Unfortunately the lack of a 'nice' resolution did not sit well for me. I am familiar with a non 'happy ever after' ending from reading most of Nicholas Sparks' books, but at least his leave you with a feeling of everything being ok. Unfortunately I believe that this book failed in that regard and left me with a lot of sadness. The whole reason I read books is to escape the disappointments in life, not be confronted by them. Normally I really enjoy Ms Lough's book. This one however just did not cut it.
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Roller Coaster Of Emotions 19 Aug 2011
By Lynne Young - Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Wow! This book was not what I was expecting! What I had expected was a fictional, faith based account of 9/11. What I got was a love story, a couple in fact, and struggle of faith.

Austin lost his twin brother in the towers and Mercy was the Dr. who was assigned to help all the first responders deal with the tragedy. In the beginning of the book Austin is very hostile to Mercy but when they meet again years later in a different place sparks fly. What develops is a quick moving love story. While the author does not dwell too much on Mercy's faith struggle, she does on Austin's. He refuses to not be "equally yoked" to the woman he has fallen in love with and she, Mercy, refuses to even discuss the topic. We watch Austin struggle with this throughout the book while it doesn't seem to bother Mercy. Her feeling is that God takes away everything she has ever loved.

Bring in Bud and Flora, Austin's neighbors. They are a ray of sunshine and have struggles of their own. You expect through the book that the outcome of Flora's health issues will go in one direction but the reader is pleasantly surprised. It is fun to read how their lives and wisdom intertwine with Austin and Mercy.

I really did love this book. It was not at all what I had expected but much better. I highly recommed this book.

Oh, word to the wise. Have tissues handy for Chapter 34. It will grab your heart. And the end of the book will be a complete surprise!
Were these reviews helpful?   Let us know
Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews

Popular Highlights

 (What's this?)
&quote;
"At the end of every day, there's sure to be at least one thing I could have done better." &quote;
Highlighted by 12 Kindle users
&quote;
you've gotta take love where you can find it in this cruel world and hold on tight for as long as you can, because you never know what will steal it from you." &quote;
Highlighted by 11 Kindle users
&quote;
"She told me never to overlook a girl's most annoying traits and habits.'Stare at 'em,' she'd say. 'Put 'em under a microscope and study 'em, then ask yourself if you can live with 'em for the rest of your life, 'cause you aren't gonna change the girl—or her faults!'" &quote;
Highlighted by 10 Kindle users

Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
Search all Amazon discussions
   
Related forums


Customers Who Highlighted This Item Also Highlighted


Look for similar items by category


Amazon Media EU S.à r.l. Privacy Statement Amazon Media EU S.à r.l. Delivery Information Amazon Media EU S.à r.l. Returns & Exchanges