Fragments of Ash
(a modern fairytale – inspired by “Cinderella”)

by Katy Regnery

 

A Standalone Contemporary Romance

 

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Blurb

From New York Times bestselling author Katy Regnery comes a dark and twisted retelling of the beloved fairytale, Cinderella!

My name is Ashley Ellis…

I was thirteen years old when my mother – retired supermodel, Tig – married Mosier Răumann, who was twice her age and the head of the Răumann crime family.

When I turned eighteen, my mother mysteriously died. Only then did I discover the dark plans my stepfather had in store for me all along; the debauched “work” he expected me to do.

With the help of my godfather, Gus, I have escaped from Mosier’s clutches, but his twin sons and henchmen have been tasked with hunting me down. And they will stop at nothing to return my virgin body to their father

…dead or alive.

** Contemporary Romance. Due to profanity and very strong sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18.**

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Review

4 stars!

Ashley was just thirteen when her washed out Hollywood mother, Tig, married Mosier, the wealthy businessman who promised to take care of them. Then, five years later Ashley finds her world flipped upside down when her mother dies and she learns of the plans her stepfather has for her after she graduates from high school. Desperate to get out of his grasp, she flees to the only friend she has who can hide her away.

I love Katy Regnery’s ~a modern fairytale~ collection and the wonderful stories she brings to life that are inspired by some of my favorite fairytales. Fragments of Ash is a lovely and fresh take on Cinderella and I was pulled into the story from the very first page.

I really enjoyed Ashley and Julian and felt their love story was beautiful and special. Ashley was such a sweet girl whose childhood broke my heart. I felt the confusion, frustration, and sadness that surrounded her when her mother died and the utter fear she experiences when she discovers what her stepfather wants of her. She is young and naive but she is strong and brave. She has a beautiful soul and a big heart, and she deserved to find her happily ever after.

Julian is sexy, broody, and ex-military. He struggles with things that happened in his past that set his life on a different course but we don’t know what those things are and I enjoyed the mystery surrounding his past. On top of that, Julian is far from happy when he learns that Ashley’s moving into the house he rents and having her there just adds to his grumpiness.

I felt the tension between Julian and Ashley from the moment they met. It builds the more time they spend together and I loved watching their feelings grow. New feelings that make the butterflies take flight and a sweet smile form when you know they are meant to be together. Watching them fall hard and bring true love into each other’s lives warmed my heart.

This story is a beautiful slow burn romance. Even with the amazing chemistry and increasing sexual tension they take time to get to know each other. Without rushing into it, they form an unbreakable bond that stands strong against the challenges they face.

I remind myself that these are fleeting moments—that the likelihood that this story somehow ends in my favor isn’t strong. But no matter what, this time—right here, right now—is mine. One day, I will remember that once upon a time, I knew happiness, and it will help me bear my sorrow when it’s gone.

And even if they fear for what the future holds, they go all in and love fiercely, completely, and unconditionally.

We are in between right now, on an island between the past and the future. It’s finite and it’s fragile, and no matter what happens next, I want to make the very most of this moment with him.

The story is both dark and light, and the balance between the two is well done, creating a nice depth to the story. It’s romantic and emotional, exciting and suspenseful. There were chilling moments that set the stage for the terror that was possible and I felt the angst grow. There are twists that change everything and I loved watching the story unfold, especially with the fast-pacing toward the ending.

We are living in a fairytale world, my love and me.
But the day will come when, like a fragile piece of glass dropped to the ground, our world will shatter around us. Until then, we steal our piece of heaven, quietly hoping that the strength of our growing love can trounce the hounds of hell, knowing all the while that it can’t.

As the I got closer to the final chapters I was worried and consumed with how everything was going to play out. And while the ending wrapped up fairly quickly, I enjoyed the way things went down.

Overall, Fragments of Ash is another beautiful story that placed love in my heart and a smile on my face.

*ARC generously provided by the author and Give Me Books Promotions in exchange for an honest review*

 

 

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Excerpt

All rights reserved. Used with permission.

Instead of going inside, I walk around the house, to the backyard, to see if I can help bring in any dirty dishes, but the picnic table is empty. All traces of our dinner party have already been cleaned up by the Ducharmes siblings.
I look up at the midnight sky, at the dozens and dozens of stars, and I wonder if Gus is right. What he says feels right, but I feel very young and very small as I stare up at the universe. It’s not wrong to give yourself over to loving if the chance arises.
“We get amazing night skies up here.”
I look over my shoulder and find Julian, tall, barefoot, and beautiful, walking toward me.
“Yes, you do,” I answer, giving him a shy and tentative smile before I turn my attention back upward.
My skin prickles with awareness. My lips tingle, remembering the insistent pressure of his. And elsewhere in my body, I clench hard, willing those deep-set tremors not to start up again right now. I want to believe what Gus has told me—that liking and wanting a man isn’t wrong—but it’s new to me, and I need a little time to reconcile my desire and conscience together.
“When I lived in DC, it was what I missed the most, besides Noelle. More than the cheese. More than the beer. More than the skiing.” He stops, standing beside me, staring up at the firmament. “I missed Vermont’s night skies. And the millions of stars.”
“I can see why,” I say. “When I lived in LA, I never saw stars.” I giggle. “I mean, I saw the people kind, but not the sky kind.”
“Who’s the most famous person you ever met?”
“Hmm. Maybe . . . Gigi Hadid . . . or Bella? Hmm . . . Or Cara Delevingne? Kate Moss mentored my m—Tig for a while, um, and she knew Gisele, of course. Also—”
“Wait a second! Gisele? Did you ever meet Tom Brady?” he asks, his voice eager.
“Let me guess.” I glance at his face. “Patriots fan?”
“The biggest.”
“Tig went to their wedding, but I never met him. Sorry,” I say, giggling as he lays a hand over his heart and pretends to cry. “Speaking of the rich and famous, Noelle tells me you met the vice president while you worked in Washington.”
“She did?” His teasing expression disappears quickly as he straightens, dropping his hand. “Uh, yeah. Long time ago.”
“Not so long,” I say.
“Yeah, well . . . I guess it just feels like a while ago.” I wait for him to say more, hoping to learn why he left Washington so abruptly, but he stretches his arms over his head and yawns. “I’m tired. You must be exhausted.”
“At school I was on the dining hall rotation, which meant cooking for one hundred souls regularly. Tonight was a breeze.”
“Your soup was amazing.”
“Thank you.”
“The steak too.”
“Thank you again.”
“And the tart.”
“That was your sister. Let her know you thought so.”
“And the kiss.”
“Thank—” I’m grinning at him, but my eyes widen at his unexpected compliment, and I immediately look back up at the sky. It’s dark out so he can’t see my blush.
His chuckle is soft and low beside me, and maybe I’m wicked for not feeling more guilty, but I feel my smile grow as I trace Orion’s belt. I don’t dare look at him, but I feel him step closer to me, the warmth of his chest radiating against my back. If I moved slightly, one step even, his body would be flush against mine, and the shiver down my arms has nothing to do with the night chill. I want him to touch me, but I know he won’t.
As though he can read my mind, he whispers, close to my ear, “Not unless you ask.”
I close my eyes and say a prayer for strength and virtue, which, sadly, works, because the next thing I hear is his footsteps receding.
“Good night, sweet Ashley,” he says to my back, his voice a low rumble.
My eyes open slowly to the glittering heavens.
“Good night, sweet prince,” I whisper to Julian’s stars.

 

 

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 ~a modern fairytale~ collection

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About the Author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Katy Regnery started her writing career by enrolling in a short story class in January 2012. One year later, she signed her first contract, and Katy’s first novel was published in September 2013.

Forty books later, Katy claims authorship of the multititled New York Times and USA Today bestselling Blueberry Lane Series, which follows the English, Winslow, Rousseau, Story, and Ambler families of Philadelphia; the six-book, bestselling ~a modern fairytale~ series; and several other stand-alone novels and novellas, including the critically-acclaimed, 2018 RITA© nominated, USA Today bestselling contemporary romance, Unloved, a love story.

Katy’s first modern fairytale romance, The Vixen and the Vet, was nominated for a RITA® in 2015 and won the 2015 Kindle Book Award for romance. Katy’s boxed set, The English Brothers Boxed Set, Books #1–4, hit the USA Todaybestseller list in 2015, and her Christmas story, Marrying Mr. English, appeared on the list a week later. In May 2016, Katy’s Blueberry Lane collection, The Winslow Brothers Boxed Set, Books #1–4, became a New York Times e-book bestseller.

Katy’s books are available in English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Turkish.

Katy lives in the relative wilds of northern Fairfield County, Connecticut, where her writing room looks out at the woods, and her husband, two young children, two dogs, and one Blue Tonkinese kitten create just enough cheerful chaos to remind her that the very best love stories begin at home.

 

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