Book Review: From The Embers by Aly Martinez

Let’s talk about a book that had me hooked from the very first page and left me with ALL the feels: From the Embers by Aly Martinez. If you’re a sucker for second chances, sizzling chemistry, and a love story that feels both epic and deeply personal, this one needs to be on your radar ASAP.

So here’s the setup: Eason and Bree are two people brought together by tragedy. Their lives literally go up in flames (yes, there’s a fire involved), and from the ashes of heartbreak and loss, they somehow find each other. Here’s the heart-breaking part: both Eason and Bree lose their partners in the same devastating house fire. Bree’s husband and Eason’s wife were best friends, and their families had been gathered for what should have been a joyful evening. But in a cruel twist of fate, the fire changes everything, leaving Eason and Bree as the sole survivors with their children to care for.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, they’re thrust into each other’s lives in ways neither of them expected. Bree initially takes Eason in because he has nowhere else to go, and their connection begins as a fragile bond of shared grief and mutual support. Slowly but surely, that bond deepens as they navigate their new realities together. Aly Martinez does an incredible job showing how grief can both break and rebuild people. The way Eason and Bree find comfort in each other’s presence feels so organic, like they were always meant to find each other even in the darkest of circumstances.

Eason is the kind of male lead that makes you want to throw your Kindle across the room because WHY CAN’T HE BE REAL? He’s a single dad, musician, and total sweetheart with a bit of an edge. Bree, on the other hand, is strong, resilient, and just trying to hold everything together for her family. Together, they’re magic. And when I say sparks fly, I mean literal fireworks. The tension, the banter, the slow-burn build-up—it’s all so deliciously done.

What I loved most about this book is how it explores second chances—not just in love, but in life. Both Eason and Bree have been through so much, and their journey to finding happiness again feels so raw and real. It’s messy, it’s complicated, but it’s also incredibly beautiful. And can we talk about the romance? Because WOW. Martinez knows how to write a love story that’s equal parts steamy and heart-warming. There’s one scene in particular (you’ll know it when you read it) that had me clutching my chest like, “Is this what love is supposed to feel like?!”

Aly Martinez has this uncanny ability to make you root for two people you’ve never met as if they were your closest friends. She weaves together love and second chances in a way that feels so authentic and heartfelt. Her characters are flawed, vulnerable, and real, and you can’t help but become deeply invested in their journey. By the end of the book, you’re not just cheering for Eason and Bree to find happiness—you’re feeling it with them, every step of the way.

If you’re in the mood for a book that will make you believe in love again (or at least make you wish you could jump into the pages and live vicariously through these characters), From the Embers is it. It’s emotional, it’s romantic, and it’s the perfect reminder that sometimes, life gives you a second chance to find your happy ending.

So, grab a cosy blanket, a box of tissues, and maybe a glass of wine (or two) because this one’s going to take you on a ride. And when you’re done, come back and tell me all your thoughts because I NEED to gush about this with someone!

Rating: 5/5 sparks flying. Trust me, you’ll feel the heat.