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Out of the Ashes

by Olivia Duncan Craig (Goodreads Author)

3.36 of 5 stars 3.36 · rating details · 74 ratings · 24 reviews

Young Noah hadn't any idea how quickly his world could turn upside down. One minute, he was living, happy and secure, with a doting father and grandmother to look after him. The next, his father is dead, his grandmother is confined to her sickbed, and the only other family he has left is his new stepmother and her two children.

Taken far from his home, worked hard and hidde...more

ebook, 162 pages

Published July 31st 2012 by ODC Press

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Nov 12, 2012 Lena Grey rated it 4 of 5 stars

Life is definitely cruel sometimes. One minute all is well and we're happy; then in the next, some tragic event comes along and our happiness and well-being disappears. Just like in the fairy tale of Cinderella, Noah, in 'Out of the Ashes' by Olivia Duncan Craig, loses first his mother, then his father. He ends up trapped in a nightmare complete with a wicked stepmother who makes him work like a slave, determined to squeeze every ounce of goodness out of his life. But Noah is far stronger than s...more Life is definitely cruel sometimes. One minute all is well and we're happy; then in the next, some tragic event comes along and our happiness and well-being disappears. Just like in the fairy tale of Cinderella, Noah, in 'Out of the Ashes' by Olivia Duncan Craig, loses first his mother, then his father. He ends up trapped in a nightmare complete with a wicked stepmother who makes him work like a slave, determined to squeeze every ounce of goodness out of his life. But Noah is far stronger than she anticipated. The firm foundation set in his formative years has already begun to shape the person he will become. Even though his future seems bleak, Noah doesn't break. Inside, he's still a sweet, loving, generous, nurturing person he's always intended to be.

The abuse that Noah endured broke my heart. I questioned how he could remain in that situation for so long undetected, but it was more than fear for himself that kept him in place; it was his incredible, abiding compassion for his grandmother which kept him from acting. That was who Noah is. He didn't give up, he kept going when other people would have crumpled. Even without formal schooling, he had more sense than those around him. Noah has a humility that makes him an admirable person to those who care to value it. He refuses to be 'no one' as his step-family often proclaims. He doesn't know how he will do it, but he intends to prove them wrong. When he meets Matthew, he sees in him a person who recognizes him as important, even special. Noah is wise enough to recognize that Matthew is genuine, different from the others around him, and that Matthew is someone he could love. This gives Noah the motivation to want to try harder to escape the prison he's in and strive for happiness.

I love Matthew. He's the opposite of a poster child for the rich and famous. He's unselfish, sensitive, caring, compassionate, and thoughtful. I adore his family as well; they are good people, loving and supportive, wanting the best for their son, even if they don't agree with his ideas. Matthew has all the advantages a young man could possibly have, yet, he's looking for more, something meaningful and fulfilling. When he meets Noah, he recognizes him as a special person, one he'd like to know better, but the time just isn't right. Even still, Noah makes a lasting impression on Matthew, one he never forgets. Even though he doesn't know who Noah is when he sees him again years later, there's still the sense of the person he's with being unique, special, and appealing to him in a way he can't explain.

This is a very endearing love story. There's a lot of angst in it, but because of Noah's determination not to be a victim and not let himself be de-humanized, it's not nearly as bad as it could have been. Noah's a gem and so is Matthew and I couldn't resist cheering for both of them. I also couldn't resist hoping that Karma would take care of his step-family either. There are so many important lessons in this fairy-tale-like story, ones we all need to be mindful of, i.e., appreciating what you have, counting your blessings, treating everyone with respect, and respecting yourself. There are also moral lessons to the story—love conquers all and good is more powerful than evil. I'd recommend this book to anyone who would enjoy a heart warming story and loveable characters with indomitable spirits, and, of course, as with any fairy tale, a happily ever after ending. Thank you, Olivia, for introducing me to Noah and Matthew and allowing me share their journey to happiness.

(less)

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Oct 06, 2012 Top 2 Bottom Reviews Interviews and More rated it 5 of 5 stars

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Out Of The Ashes is the second book I’ve read by Olivia Duncan Craig, and I admit I’m officially hooked on this author’s work. I love her lyrical style of writing as well as her ability to really get into the heart and soul of her characters. With each page I found myself eagerly wondering what was in store for her heroes, and how they were going to find their way to each other. This book literally kept me on the edge of my seat and I loved every minute of...more http://top2bottomreviews.wordpress.co...

Out Of The Ashes is the second book I’ve read by Olivia Duncan Craig, and I admit I’m officially hooked on this author’s work. I love her lyrical style of writing as well as her ability to really get into the heart and soul of her characters. With each page I found myself eagerly wondering what was in store for her heroes, and how they were going to find their way to each other. This book literally kept me on the edge of my seat and I loved every minute of it.

When Noah was very young he had a happy life. Although his mother passed away at a very young age, his father and grandmother doted on him and he always felt safe and loved. When he just turned five, his father wanted more for his son, so he married a woman named Elaine who had a son and daughter. Although his new stepmother was nice to him, Noah never really had a chance to warm up to her, because soon afterward, his father dies and his beloved grandmother has a stroke, and young Noah is in the grip of his stepmother’s jealousy, abuse and neglect. Soon, Elaine uproots the family and moves them to her hometown in Texas, where she spends money like it’s going out of style, but none of it goes to Noah. Noah is forced to work hard and take care of his invalid grandmother and kept practically hidden from sight.

As the years go on, Noah works his fingers to the bone and the only love or affection he ever receives is by his ailing grandmother. One day when Noah is fourteen he sees a young man ride up on a horse and immediately feels a connection with him. The young man is there to see his stepmother, but he is kind to Noah and treats him like an equal. He finds out the man’s name is Matthew and although he only sees Matthew once more, Noah finds himself very smitten with the young man. Four years later, when Noah finds out that Matthew has returned from college and his family is having a Halloween ‘Welcome Home’ party for Matthew, Noah knows he must do whatever it takes to see him again.

I LOVED this book! As you can tell, it’s a spin-off of the fairytale, Cinderella, but it’s told with such a heartwarming and romantic feel, in my opinion, it puts the original story to shame. I found myself glued to my ereader wondering what was going to happen next, even though I have read the original Cinderella story time and time again. Out of the Ashes is a very fresh take off of a well-loved tale, and each moment that Noah and Matthew have together in the book is both heartbreaking (especially at first) and beautifully romantic.

Another reason I loved this book was: although it has a lot of angst in it, it’s not overdone. Noah literally goes through hell. His stepmother is nothing short of an abuser and there were MANY times I wanted to yank her up by her bra straps and well…we won’t go there…but even though Noah goes through all of this, in my opinion he’s still a strong, amazing character. When he loves someone he loves them with his whole heart and although there is a time when he almost loses all hope of ever having a better life, in the end Noah did not allow his abusers take that from him. I loved watching him start to stand on his own two feet and finally be able to have the chance to achieve anything he wants in life, and having Matthew by his side made the experience even more beautiful.

If you are looking for a beautifully told romance that will make you totally fall in love with the heroes and have you jumping for joy at their happy ending, then Out of the Ashes is definitely the book for you. I can’t wait to see what else this author has in store for us in the future, and I for one am anxiously waiting for her new release. Highly Recommended!

Reviewed By: Gabbi(less)

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Jul 25, 2012 Lucy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Reviewed for Hearts On Fire Reviews

This is a Cinderfella story with a little bit of a twist. Well, besides the obvious fact that both Cinders and his Prince are male! In this retelling, Cinders, AKA Noah, is basically imprisoned and enslaved by his stepmother, but he does it to take care of his beloved Gran, who is also imprisoned.

The story is told in alternating views of Noah’s life and Matthew’s. Matthew is the son of a very wealthy Texas family, with parents who taught him to value people an...more Reviewed for Hearts On Fire Reviews

This is a Cinderfella story with a little bit of a twist. Well, besides the obvious fact that both Cinders and his Prince are male! In this retelling, Cinders, AKA Noah, is basically imprisoned and enslaved by his stepmother, but he does it to take care of his beloved Gran, who is also imprisoned.

The story is told in alternating views of Noah’s life and Matthew’s. Matthew is the son of a very wealthy Texas family, with parents who taught him to value people and not to depend on money as a guide to life. He takes these lessons to heart, and Matthew is a truly good person. He has an amazing best friend, Cal, who is four years older and provides a bit of mischief, keeping Matthew from being too perfect. While we read of Matthew’s basically charmed life, we are also exposed to Noah’s increasingly horrible one.
When Noah is born, his parents are so happy. His mother dies young, and his Gran is the one who convinces his father for the sake of Noah he must marry again. Father does try his best in choosing someone who will be good for Noah, the beautiful Elaine, who has two children of her own, Lucy and Dillon. It is telling that right from the beginning Elaine hugs and kisses only her own children. Even at five, little Noah questions why this is true, but he has his daddy and that’s all okay. Then daddy dies, Gran has a stroke and Elaine moves them all to Texas. She allows Noah to bring just one toy with him, which is the beginning of the end of peace for Noah.

It is diabolically accurate in how Elaine is portrayed as a true abuser. She tacks on the chores just a bit at a time, so it doesn’t occur to Noah at first that he is being abused. She uses his love for his Gran (and for Midnight, the colt his daddy got him earlier) to control his actions and to add on more work. The addition of Willis, the abusive stable manager, makes the transformation from boy to slave complete.

One thing I absolutely loved about this – when Matthew comes riding up and meets Noah for the first time, he sees a cute young man with dimples, working in a stable. He does not fall instantly in love and he does not spend the next four years pining over him. That gave the fairy tale a little more of a realistic down to earth twist. Yes, he was attracted to Noah, but he recognized his youth and that they were strangers. Good for you, Ms. Craig.

The story greatly follows the plot of Cinderella, changed to fit modern times and the M/M story line. At times I hated to turn the page, because I knew something was going to happen to poor Noah. Also mention, Elaine has never allowed him to go to school, and he has never set foot off the ranch. Add in the fact that Gran isn’t capable of going anywhere, and Noah is well and truly stuck.

The ball of this story is a Halloween party. I admit, I laughed twice – once while picturing Noah’s hat bouncing all over his head, and another when “that old Leslie Gore song was beginning to echo inside his head”. I am assuming this is the refrain, “It’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to”. At one point, Matthew even says “You really are Cinderella” to an absent Noah.

The story does very closely follow the Cinderella story, so there aren’t really any surprises or big plot turns. But it’s very well written and Noah is a lovely character. You know his HEA is coming, but after everything that happens, you want him to have it. I loved the character of Cal, and also that Lucy (Elaine’s daughter) wasn’t portrayed as an evil stepsister, yet wasn’t an innocent either, as she stood by and allowed the abuse even as she got older. It’s a very nice take on a classic fairy tale.
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Aug 11, 2012 Josie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Out of Ashes is a wonderful modern take on Cinderella.

Noah, orphaned at a young age, is raised by his cruel and wicked stepmother Elaine. He grows up lonely, forced to miss school he spends his days looking after his sick grandmother as well as working for their keep. He spends his days looking after the horses at his stepmothers stables, watched over by Willis, the Stable hand bully. At the same time Matthew, a few years older than Noah, is growing up in the same district, living a charmed life...more

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Oct 06, 2012 Gabbi rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: olivia-duncan-craig, top2bottom-reviews, angst, fairy-tale-themed-m-m-romances, favorites, gay-romance, love-at-first-sight

Out Of The Ashes is the second book I’ve read by Olivia Duncan Craig, and I admit I’m officially hooked on this author’s work. I love her lyrical style of writing as well as her ability to really get into the heart and soul of her characters. With each page I found myself eagerly wondering what was in store for her heroes, and how they were going to find their way to each other. This book literally kept me on the edge of my seat and I loved every minute of it.

When Noah was very young he had a ha...more Out Of The Ashes is the second book I’ve read by Olivia Duncan Craig, and I admit I’m officially hooked on this author’s work. I love her lyrical style of writing as well as her ability to really get into the heart and soul of her characters. With each page I found myself eagerly wondering what was in store for her heroes, and how they were going to find their way to each other. This book literally kept me on the edge of my seat and I loved every minute of it.

When Noah was very young he had a happy life. Although his mother passed away at a very young age, his father and grandmother doted on him and he always felt safe and loved. When he just turned five, his father wanted more for his son, so he married a woman named Elaine who had a son and daughter. Although his new stepmother was nice to him, Noah never really had a chance to warm up to her, because soon afterward, his father dies and his beloved grandmother has a stroke, and young Noah is in the grip of his stepmother’s jealousy, abuse and neglect. Soon, Elaine uproots the family and moves them to her hometown in Texas, where she spends money like it’s going out of style, but none of it goes to Noah. Noah is forced to work hard and take care of his invalid grandmother and kept practically hidden from sight.

As the years go on, Noah works his fingers to the bone and the only love or affection he ever receives is by his ailing grandmother. One day when Noah is fourteen he sees a young man ride up on a horse and immediately feels a connection with him. The young man is there to see his stepmother, but he is kind to Noah and treats him like an equal. He finds out the man’s name is Matthew and although he only sees Matthew once more, Noah finds himself very smitten with the young man. Four years later, when Noah finds out that Matthew has returned from college and his family is having a Halloween ‘Welcome Home’ party for Matthew, Noah knows he must do whatever it takes to see him again.

I LOVED this book! As you can tell, it’s a spin-off of the fairytale, Cinderella, but it’s told with such a heartwarming and romantic feel, in my opinion, it puts the original story to shame. I found myself glued to my ereader wondering what was going to happen next, even though I have read the original Cinderella story time and time again. Out of the Ashes is a very fresh take off of a well-loved tale, and each moment that Noah and Matthew have together in the book is both heartbreaking (especially at first) and beautifully romantic.

Another reason I loved this book was: although it has a lot of angst in it, it’s not overdone. Noah literally goes through hell. His stepmother is nothing short of an abuser and there were MANY times I wanted to yank her up by her bra straps and well…we won’t go there…but even though Noah goes through all of this, in my opinion he’s still a strong, amazing character. When he loves someone he loves them with his whole heart and although there is a time when he almost loses all hope of ever having a better life, in the end Noah did not allow his abusers take that from him. I loved watching him start to stand on his own two feet and finally be able to have the chance to achieve anything he wants in life, and having Matthew by his side made the experience even more beautiful.

If you are looking for a beautifully told romance that will make you totally fall in love with the heroes and have you jumping for joy at their happy ending, then Out of the Ashes is definitely the book for you. I can’t wait to see what else this author has in store for us in the future, and I for one am anxiously waiting for her new release. Highly Recommended!

Reviewed By: Gabbi(less)

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Mar 09, 2013 Lis rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m-books, mm-reviewbook, m-m-contemporary

**Review for Rarely Dusty Books**

As a child I always liked the story of Cinderella and movies that go along with it: from the classic Disney movie to Ella Enchanted and Ever After. So it comes as no surprise that I’d like ‘Cinderfella’ stories, Out of the Ashes being one of them.

Out of the Ashes follows along the lines of the classic story. One moment Noah is happy with his caring father and grandmother, the next his world is turned around when his father dies and his grandmother suffers a strok...more **Review for Rarely Dusty Books**

As a child I always liked the story of Cinderella and movies that go along with it: from the classic Disney movie to Ella Enchanted and Ever After. So it comes as no surprise that I’d like ‘Cinderfella’ stories, Out of the Ashes being one of them.

Out of the Ashes follows along the lines of the classic story. One moment Noah is happy with his caring father and grandmother, the next his world is turned around when his father dies and his grandmother suffers a stroke.

Taken by the evil stepmother to a remote location, he is worked hard and cares for his ailing grandmother. Then his Prince Charming comes along. The question is: will Noah have a happily ever after and how does it come about?

If you know the tale of Cinderella, it’s not hard to guess where this story is going. So it’s not the beginning that matters and you can guess how it ends, but the middle that is the important part and Out of the Ashes doesn’t disappoint.

Noah is a very likable, sweet character. He is strong too, to be able to work so hard and care for his grandmother at the same time. There were moments when reading the story that I just wanted hug Noah and tell him it would be all right.

His Prince Charming is definitely a ‘Prince Charming.’ Matthew, Noah’s neighbor on a nearby property, has it all. Good looks, money and charms and an all-around good life. He is a little clueless though, not to notice Noah. He needed to be hit over the head… hard.

Both main characters are well worked out and round. The rest of the cast suffers a bit of the typical stereotype style of writing. But then it’s to be expected given that it’s a retelling of a fairytale. There is no sympathy for the wicked step-bitch or her kid.

Out of the Ashes is a sweet if not a little fluffy, story that makes for a good read on a dreary Sunday afternoon, cuddled up with cats and hot chocolate. The writing is lyrical and well done, though it would have helped the story if an editor had gone over it one more time for the spelling and grammar mistakes. While I’m not one who condones books with bad editing, this story makes up for it if you put your spelling/grammar blinders on. (less)

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Sep 10, 2012 Penny rated it 3 of 5 stars

I was really enjoyed the beginning of the cinderfella novel. The storyline is a mix of old and new. Very intense, but the ending seemed hurried compared the amount of detail at the first half of the book. I wanted to meeting at the party to be richer.(Not more sex) But a better, more involved connection. The ending just fell a little flat. I wanted the family to pay more. Not just a side note at the end. 2.75 stars.

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Aug 06, 2012 Merry rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-read, cliche, instalove-bleah, mm

Basically Cinderella for the gay. The problem I have with books like this that riff on "classics" is that they are only good if there is some twist or altering of the original story. Basically rewriting the story with two male characters and some sex does not make a good or imaginative story. Marie Sexton does a far better job with Cinder.

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Nov 12, 2012 Ayanna marked it as maybe-later

As far as I'm concerned, the Cinderella plot has been beaten like the proverbial dead horse until you can't even tell it was originally a horse. I can't really see anything that would make this one worth reading in the blurb, so I may not read it.

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Sep 05, 2012 Chris rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: gay, 2012, done, fairy-tale, romance, ebook

Good m/m romance based on Cinderella about a guy who grows up on a remote Texas ranch, basically living the life of an indentured servant. And then one day a handsome young man visits the ranch... This needed a wee bit more proofreading attention.

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Sep 06, 2012 Simsala*is getting slow* rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: b-sn-oring, m-m, fantasy

2,5 stars

I prefer the original by The Brothers Grimm - it`s shorter.

Cute, sweet, fluffy m/m version of Cinderella that was unnecessarily drawn out.

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Aug 06, 2012 Hearts On Fire Reviews added it

Reviewed by: Lucy
Genre: M/M Fairy Tale
Rated: 4 hearts

Check out the review at: Hearts On Fire Reviews

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Nov 09, 2012 Nivalis rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, fanfic-turned-original, first-time, m-m, trauma-abuse

Nicely written story with great, three-dimensional characters, I just didn't feel the romance at all. Ending was way over the top for my tastes.

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Dec 02, 2012 Taylor rated it 3 of 5 stars

Definitely not the best written or the most (believably) developed but a fun read and a wonderful take on our beloved Cinderella tale.

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Oct 18, 2012 Lucia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m, abuse

Very touching book. The hero suffered lots of abuse but he finally gets his HEA at the end.

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Sep 04, 2012 Moniqee rated it 4 of 5 stars

A cute version of Cinderella with a MM twist

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Sep 15, 2012 Page Crusherz rated it 3 of 5 stars

3.5

Cute story. Likable MC's.

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Jan 31, 2013 Raevyn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 45k-to-65k-words, contemporary, hurt-comfort, m-m, 2013

3.5 stars

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Sep 25, 2012 Rachel rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: cowboy, romance-mm

Cute.

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Aug 06, 2012 J rated it 3 of 5 stars

I would give this book 3.5 stars.

Another enjoyable book, took me a while to get into the style as it is written like a fairy tale, but it was worth sticking with. the ending was a bit flat, and was a bit of an anti climax after the various scenarios the main character had been through

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Nov 21, 2012 Stephanie rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: mm, mm-fairytales

2.5 stars

This book is a modern take of the classic Cinderella story. The first part of the book was good but then it was unnecessarily drawn out with some many details about the characters and the ending was rushed. The MCs got their HEA but I felt that Noah still had some growing up to do after so many years hidden from the world. I also didn't feel the connection between the MCs.

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Aug 03, 2012 C rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: amazon, mm-romance

It was a great start but only felt like half the story.

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Mar 04, 2013 Adriana rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, male-male, b-i-n-g-o, abuse-bullying-rape-or-violence

2.5

I really, really wanted this!! But this was not good, maybe it was the writing or maybe it was me, but I didn't like the MC's and the story was just boring.
The 2.5 star rating is because I read it all and it was exactly what the blurb promised… too bad I expected more.

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Feb 05, 2013 Mandi rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance-mm

2.5-3 stars.

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Jun 18, 2013 Karen marked it as 2013-wishlist

Jun 16, 2013 Pennynickel rated it 2 of 5 stars

Jun 08, 2013 Danii rated it 2 of 5 stars

May 29, 2013 Jay rated it 3 of 5 stars

May 26, 2013 Nadiya marked it as to-read

Shelves: eb-own

May 22, 2013 momokaachan marked it as mm-to-read

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About Olivia Duncan Craig

Livvie has been writing in one form or another for more than fifteen years. Enough kind people encouraged her that she decided to try her luck with the wild and woolly world of indie publishing. So far, so good. Olivia Duncan Craig is not her real name. For various reasons, she needs to lead a double life. That may change one day. She is based out of Washington, DC, but travels extensively for wor...more

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