Love from the Ashes

by Denise A. Agnew

From the Ashes of Hell itself... During the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire, privileged Grace Wyne and Irish immigrant Nathaniel Dempsey desperately try to rescue LOVE FROM THE ASHES. Grace and Nate seek freedom and a new life in San Francisco but society, her family and forces of Nature, wage war against them. Nate is torn by the death of his family in Ireland. Yet he finds Grace's spirit and strength a balm for his soul. She joins a suffragette organization, but when she encounters scorn and violence, Nate vows to protect her. She is determined to marry for love, and now is stunned by her feelings for a man far beneath her social status. There is more than one danger to face—for the earth is unstable and their forbidden love is a sure formula for disaster. When the earth trembles and breaks apart, only Nature knows who will live to love again... and who will die.

Genres: Romance, Historical Fiction, Historical Romance, Historical, Ebooks, Fiction, Christian Fiction

270 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Denise A. Agnew is the award-winning author of over 70 novels and several optioned and produced screenplays and TV pilots.

Denise’s record proves that with paranormal, time travel, romantic comedy, contemporary, historical, erotic romance, romantic suspense and horror writing under her belt, she enjoys writing about a diverse range of subjects. Her experiences with archaeology and archery have crept into her work, as well as numerous travels through the UK and Ireland.

Denise is also a Writer/Producer (Where’s Lucy? Productions), a paranormal investigator (SOS Paranormal Investigations), Reiki Master, Certified Creativity Coach and Medium. As a Creativity Coach, Denise assists anyone in the creative arts, including writing and acting, to maintain lifelong creativity. Denise lives in Arizona with her husband. She is represented by Gandolfo Helin and Fountain Literary Management.

Visit Denise’s websites at www.deniseagnew.com and www.agnewcreativemedium.com

Reviews

[Misfit · Rating 2 out of 5]

The year is 1906. Grace Wyne is determined to marry for love, and not for money and social position and she leaves her mother and Denver behind to spend time with her father and step-mother in San Francisco. Grace meets Irish immigrant Nathaniel (Nate) Dempsey when he applies for the job as her father's chauffeur and the two can barely keep their eyes (let alone their hands) off of each other. Surprisingly for the daughter of a wealthy Nob Hill businessman and a Denver socialite, Grace has almost unlimited access to go where she wants to (just where is that chaperone of hers?), and before you know it she's getting driving lessons from Nate and they even take a trip to the local saloon where the Irish immigrants hang out (chaperone, wherefore art thou?). Grace is interested in the suffragettes and there's a couple of visits to meetings with her step-mother and they're escorted by Nate. Finally all this panting and breathing and running around without a chaperone culminates in the big earthquake as our pair are separated and fear the worst for each other. Will there be a HEA? By this time do you care?

Can you tell I didn't enjoy this very much?

It is probably my fault, as I expected a book of a more historical nature and not a sexed up romance - and badly sexed up at that. No chemistry between these two, and frankly no common sense as to how they were able to develop a relationship at all. After the quake, if they'd been thrown together in a desperate race for their lives in the path of the encroaching fire or something, that I'd have bought into, but not that a girl of her social class and station would be so free and easy with someone of Nate's lower status - and that her step-mother would wink and look the other way!

"She'd told Mary what she intended to do, and Mary promised that at eleven that evening her father would be too occupied to even think about a wayward daughter."

Don't get me wrong, I do like a good romance on occasion, but it still needs to be told with believable characters who act in a plausible manner appropriate to the time period and their station in life and that just doesn't happen here. Nate gets sick and Grace (an unmarried female) can go running to his room and nurse him (where is that chaperone again?) and not an eyebrow is raised? Grace is accosted by one of daddy's servants (seriously, would they dare to presume?), and she doesn't mention it to daddy?

"Instantly he pushed his tongue in, giving Grace no time to think as he used his mouth to torture as much as tutor, searching her with dips and licks that drove her insanity up another notch. She wanted. She wanted ... She laced her arms around his neck, pressing her breasts against his chest, and opening her thighs. Nate took advantage. He moved his hips, nestling between her thighs"

Seriously? They're caught doing some heavy petting in daddy's library (chaperone where are you?), and daddy doesn't lock her up and ship her off somewhere? And did I tell you that Nate not only shows up for his job interview at the front door, but Grace meets him, he kisses her hand (hello, chaperone?) and she stays for the whole interview? Sorry, but this book is a fail on so many levels, and the plot twists are so forced it's like the author tried to push a square peg into a round hole. Thankfully it was a free download.

[Verana Vacchiano · Rating 2 out of 5]

For a free ebook it was better than expected but still pretty yawn-worthy and cringey. A good 80 percent of the book was boring, even the sexualized moments between whatsherface and whatshisface. The only interesting parts were when the earthquake happened and destruction was abundant. Even with this I feel the panic of the earthquake could have been better written, and maybe the book would have grabbed at my emotional heartstrings if someone died. The romance between the lead characters is boring and completely sexual which made me cringe.
However, on the basis that it was a free ebook it did much better than I expected.

[Gator Girl Eaton · Rating 1 out of 5]

just started...and this was one of those "freebies" from an ebook site. "OK" so far....just the heroine's reaction the first time she sees the hero is such a romance novel cliche: his gaze and his voice makes her "tingle" in the region south of her navel? (eye roll)

p.s. I like the paperback version's cover better.


P.S.S I just can't do it. Couldn't finish it. I lost count on how many times I rolled my eyes at the stupid cliches and the dialogue.

[Susie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Despite the book's title and description, this book is about love formed before and around the time of the San Francisco fire, not after. The only thing that comes from the ashes is a destruction of socioeconomic prejudice that allows the characters to marry. This book would have been better without the sex.

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book. The set-up is excellent, but the story doesn’t deliver. The tale is set in San Franciso around the massive earthquake. Our heroine’s a spunky, would-be suffragette from a wealthy family. The hero’s an Irish Immigrant making his way in the USA battling the discrimination many Irish faced at the time.

Unfortunately, the story telling is so pedantic I just couldn’t move forward. Too many words – so many colorless descriptions, when I want action. Stilted dialogue. A heroine that’s a little too chipper. Sigh. I just can’t move forward.

[Glee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful Historical Romance

A romantic novel set in the backdrop of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Steep full of the class woman inequality, it demonstrated strength and desire.

[Helenk · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is historical romance. Long on romance short on history. All I can say is it was an OK, quick read.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars ~ When Grace's father divorced her mother and wed again, he moved to San Francisco leaving Grace with her mother in Denver. She's from a well to-do family and her mother pressures her to marry. But Grace had vowed that she'd only marry for love and so she repeatedly turns down her suitors. Feeling smothered by her mother's demands for her to marry Grace decides it's time for her to join her father in San Francisco. Nate's newly immigrated from Ireland and has been hired as a chauffeur for a wealthy Nob Hill family. His employer's daughter, Grace, is a real corker, always looking to prove her independence. She'd even gotten her father to agree that he should teach her to drive. Grace has been in the company of many young men, however, none has ever made her heart race like Nate. And his Irish brogue which is more pronounced when he becomes heated emotionally, is really quite charming. Nate is from the servant class and Grace is definitely San Francisco upper crust. Any relationship is strictly not allowed.

This was a lovely historical romance. From the book synopsis I did expect more of the story to be set during the great earthquake of 1906, however, that only happens towards the end of the book. Nate is a young man with a bit of a chip on his shoulder. His protective attitude towards Grace really gets her riled. She's eager to prove that women have the right to make their own decisions and she manages to talk Nate into taking her to places a lady of society should never go. With their chemistry sparking off the pages and the tension of a forbidden love, I found this to be a compelling read

[Linda Andrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

After refusing yet another marriage proposal, Denver socialite Grace Wyne finds herself cast out of her mother's house and shuttled to her father's Nob Hill mansion in San Francisco. She's ecstatic at the turn of events, believing her father will understand her need for a marriage based on love. He does, but that doesn't mean he supports her suffragist endeavors.

After loosing most of his family to a house fire, Irish immigrant Nate Dempsey left his homeland to make his fortune in America. Although he's been saving as much as he can, so far his dream hasn't come true. But he finds contentment working as a chauffeur in the Wyne household.

And then he finds Grace.

Both have an instant attraction to the other. Both break society's rules to spend time with each other. And both won't admit that this love is exactly what they need to achieve their dreams until the moment the earthquake hits and each believes all is lost.

From the Ashes is well written book about overcoming the obstacles we place in our way that keep us from happiness. Ms. Agnew does an amazing job of weaving in period details to help enmesh the reader into early 19th century San Francisco. While I throughly enjoyed the book, I would have liked a little more on why the social stratification kept two such fiercesome rebels apart. That small comment aside, Grace and Nate's romance is a rumbling tremor that leads up to the big moment, when nothing will ever be the same again.

[Lemurkat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those "guilty pleasure" books. The ones that whilst they are not exactly the best written, and whilst the characters could have been better developed, you cannot help find yourself immersed in and enjoying. I was reading it more for the earthquake than the romance, however, and the fact that the earthquake did not occur until about 3/4s of the way through the story was a bit disappointing, but I did find that last bit rather gripping, although more could have been made of the tragedy and the death - I felt like I was being told about it, rather than shown. Having recently experienced a lot of earthquakes myself, including several major ones, I would have to say that even our worst could not compare to that San Francisco one.

As for Grace... While her attraction to Nate was the main point of the plot, she did come across as rather a foolish young lady, who was perhaps both a bit of a tease and also given far, far too much freedom. She's lucky her father did not ship her off to a convent or something! As it was, I did like Nate. I guess I've got a little bit of a crush on the whole "black irish" thing. And the sex scene was pretty sexy. So yes, a quick and enjoyable read, but not one that would stand up to heavy analysis.

[Annette Mardis · Rating 4 out of 5]

History melds with a stirring story of forbidden love

Although the book is set in the early 1900s, Grace Wyne has a lot in common with women of a later era. Her independence defies convention, but she's determined to marry for love and not be constrained by her wealthy family's elevated status in society.

Nathaniel Dempsey may be a poor Irish immigrant, but he's rich in dreams and self-confidence. He and Grace are a combustible pair, and it's fun watching them try to deny their obvious attraction.

Those two remind me more than a little of Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler. And the Great Fire of San Francisco that followed the 1906 earthquake is reminiscent of the torching of Atlanta by General Sherman and his Union troops, especially as Grace flees the burning city in a horse-drawn wagon.

I'm intrigued by American history and would've liked having the author delve more deeply into the tragic events that devastated San Francisco. Even so, this was an enjoyable read that I would recommend to anyone who is a fan of romance.

[Tara Chevrestt · Rating 2 out of 5]

I made it to the 50% point and realized that except for a bottle throwing episode and a barroom brawl, nothing of interest had happened. This chick is supposed to be a Suffragette and whereas she attends a few meetings, there is no real detail whatsoever about the Suffragettes or their meetings or cause. Grace shows up for the meeting on one page and by the next page, the meeting is over and she has spent the entire time thinking of her father's chaffeur and his taut muscles beneath his shirt and the feel of his hard body against hers and oh my.. what is happening to her? You get the picture.

As for the great earthquake, there were a few tremors but by the halfway point, still no big one. It's really just a romance novel and thus, not for me. Also, by the middle, the hero had "rescued" the heroine three times already. Give me a break. Very stereotypical.

Lovely cover though.

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

It so depressing with good ending. Two people wanted to be free from a parent prejudiced upbringing background against a poor Irish man who fell in love to a wealthy Irish descent woman.

Nathaniel Dempsey will prove to Grace Wyne's parents that he's not after their fortune, but only wanted Grace's love. When a massive earthquake happened in San Francisco everything was wiped out including Mr. Alistair Wayne's mansion due to a huge fire descended upon after the terrible earthquake, and turned everything into rubbles.

So, Nathaniel went to aide Grace father with determination that everything is not lost, and the devastation was only a test of how strong their love that nobody can't separate them not even a destruction of the bustling promising city.

[Shannon Adamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy crap! I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!! I could not put it down all day, and the house showed for it. I am not really into historical romances much, but this one had my attention from the beginning. Probably because this took place during the San Francisco earthquake/fire of 1906, which really happened. And I believe the "social structure" that took place during the book really happened back then.

Man, nothing screams HOT male like an Irish male. Makes me want to visit Ireland, thank goodness my name is Shannon ;)

Once I am done reading all my other books, this will be without a doubt one that I will re-visit later on.....

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story except for one thing that really ruined the whole book for me. I may be wrong, because no one else has mentioned this, but it seems like we lost a day somewhere. The party was April 16. She was dressed in her party dress when she went to see Nate, and just in case it was a different party, she referred to the night's events when she spoke to Nate. But then we magically jump to the morning of April 18 and the earthquake. Um, where did the 17th go? It's a stupid thing to ruin the whole story, I know, but really, when you're basing a whole plot around a specific date, shouldn't you pay more attention to the dates? If I missed something, feel free to correct me.

[Brenda · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book was interesting but at the time I feel that I was too distracted to really give it a good review. I had to put it down and pick it up again too often. So please, if the note below gotten from Good Reads describing the book sounds interesting to you, get the book for your kindle too.

During the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire, privileged Grace Wyne and Irish immigrant Nathaniel Dempsey fall in love. They seek a new life together, but society, her family, and nature itself, wage war against them. Their forbidden love is a sure formula for disaster.

[McKayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story about two people from different sides of the world and class who find they can't stay away from each other. This is a sweet love story set in the backdrop of one of the most traumatic natural disaster to hit America in modern times. I love that Grace could care less about someones standing in society. Yes she is wealthy but isn't against being seen amongst the real working class. She also wants to learn and have her life matter. She wants to make a difference and she doesn't care if anyone helps her or not.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent historical romance centering around the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Grace is a rich man's daughter living in a huge house on Nob Hill. Nate is her father's Irish immigrant chauffeur. In the months leading up to the quake they find themselves falling into a forbidden love.
The story culminates in the days following the quake with a short epilogue taking place one year later.
A wonderful story.

[Dawn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the story and historical context. I gave it fewer stars becuase it focused on and was more explicit for my taste.

Lesson learned - next time I'll read a new authors bio before - if I had I would have skipped this book.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the setting. Turn of the century stories are so fun! The world was on the cusp of so many amazing technological and medical advancements but it was still very innocent. San Francisco is a city that is top of my bucket list. And, honestly, who can resist a man described as black Irish?!?!

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love that this is set around San Francisco's 1906 earthquake! Cute story, illustrating an interesting part of American history: the suffragette movement as well as the start of the breaking down of the class system. I really enjoyed reading this one.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet romance set in the early 1900's. While the story was well written I personally didn't find it very gripping. While I normally devour a book in a couple evenings this was more of a relaxing read that I finished over a couple weeks.

[Sibylla Matilde · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book... I liked that the hero wasn't this super overly successful rich guy or long lost heir to something... And the parts with the earthquake were pretty spectacular. I sort of felt like she accepted his death kind of quickly... but overall I thought it was a good book!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay for a romance novel. I'm still trying to get used to reading these "things". Love more of the murder mystery novels, so this is a huge change. Found that I had a tough time putting it down though.

Liked it.

[Cheryl Meyers · Rating 3 out of 5]

good read. Great Earthquake in San Francisco and love across the classes.

[Jeanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a free ebook, it was significantly better than expected

[Martha]

Also in Nook Archive.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really liked this book about the San Francisco fire, relationships, and love.

[Melissa Curtis-Banuelos · Rating 5 out of 5]

I totally enjoyed this book. I loved how love sprung from different society classes.

[Capathia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a free book for Ipad- Fast read and I really enjoyed it.