Slick's review posted on Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews 
 Review copy provided for an honest review 
 4 STARS 
 Review copy provided for an honest review 
 reviewedby-Slick 
 This is one of those books that took me by surprise in a good way. I knew it was a M/M story going in but I never expected the emotional upheaval it left on my heart. Two men both who are struggling but in different ways find each other and battle outside forces that are determined to make their lives and relationship difficult. A complex well thought out story that I could not put down and when I finished, I was wishing book 2 was already waiting for me to read. Looks like Daisy Harris has a hit on her hands and a fantastic start to what promises to be an intriguing series. 
 When Jesse Smith's apartment burns down with everything he owns inside, he has no idea what he's going to do and how he's going to manage. Cut off from his family, fairly new in town with only co-workers he can call on he feels lost, alone, and confused. 
 Firefighter Tomas Perez recognizes the despair and worry in the young man whose apartment just burned down. He's inexplicably drawn to him and he can't help but offer to lend a helping hand. While he tells himself he's just being a good citizen, he knows he feels more for Jesse than he should and he's worried how this will change his life. Tomas knows he's gay but he's so far shoved in the closet and he never expects to come out but when he takes Jesse home, he begins to realize that sometimes you have to fight for what your truly want. 
 What you have in this story are two basically very messed up young guys (21 & 25). Jesse's family disowned him for being gay so he moved away and is working his way through college. He doesn't trust easily and he is wary that people will expect more from him than he's willing to give. He's fairly inexperienced but feels an attraction towards Tomas like he's never felt before. Tomas is from a large Hispanic Catholic family who lives next door to him and he's firmly in the closet. One conversation with his older brother when he was 14 made him realize he needed to keep him sexual orientation to himself. It's hard to even know where to begin other than to say these two have a lot of issues, problems and outside forces that are bound and determined to keep them apart. They both have to learn to accept, adapt, and yes change in order to make things work and I very much enjoyed watching each of them grow into the men they needed to be for one another. It wasn't easy and at times it was really, really messy but they muddled through together. 
 I would have loved to have given this book 5 stars but I felt the situation with Tomas' family was never fully resolved or at least with his parents. Yes, it was implied but they never had a sit down face to face open and honest conversation that I really felt was necessary to bring this story full circle. Other than that though, it really was a great story. 
 A very good start to a promising series, From The Ashes will rock you emotionally, leave you sizzling with the sexy intimate scenes, and give you many moments of sheer bliss as this young relationship blossoms. Enjoy!