WHEN ASHES FALL by MARNI MANN

‘I hugged her. I was holding her with every part of me, every piece of my flesh that could reach her.
And I didn’t let go.
Not even when she fell asleep.’

As we wipe away our tears, we declare this to be one of our favourite reads this year. This is one of those books we feel the need to grab every fellow reader who appreciates an extraordinarily well written and heartfelt story, one that relies on raw human emotion rather than unnecessary drama or theatrics and yell, read this book. The feelings you’ll experience from this story will leave you breathless, cherishing every moment, and remembering Alix, Dylan and Smith’s story as though you lived it.

“We all need a little more hope. And some people need the reminder that there will be more sunny days, especially me.”

The synopsis tells us ‘if you think this book is about cheating, you couldn’t be more wrong’ and that is so true. This is a not an angsty drama filled triangle romance, what this is, is a powerful, poignant, heartfelt and deeply moving love story. We’re asked if you can love two men at the same time, after reading When Ashes Fall, we absolutely believe you can, and Marni Mann will show you why. We also stress there is no cheating in this book. So please, open your hearts, set aside any reservations and let Alix, Dylan, and Smith share their story. We promise you an unforgettable reading experience.

‘I always heard music. Beats, lyrics. I only had to listen to a song before it started playing in my head. One day…the music stopped.’

There is something almost spiritual about this story, a story about the empowerment of love, its strength, its resilience, and its pain, and didn’t Marni Mann just give her whole heart to these characters. Her convincing, sincere and heart-rending story showcased her incredible writing talent, in a story that affected us deeply; one that will forever live within us.

‘I was in complete darkness. That was where I belonged. And that was where I stayed.’

First responder Alix Rayne has lost her heart to two men. Two very different men whom we both loved equally. Dylan Cole, swept Alix off her feet and loved her with every fibre of his being. Smith Reid, the sweet and sensitive a balm for Alix when she needed his comfort. Smith was the patient to Dylan’s pushy, the calm to Dylan’s storm. Each man had the most beautiful qualities, and each was perfect for the sweet and vulnerable Alix in their own way. As was her best friend Rose. This is a lady every girl needs as a friend. Honest, caring, firm and non-judgmental. Rose was integral to the story.

The story is set in Boston which acts almost as a secondary character, providing an atmospheric backdrop to When Ashes Fall. It’s told in 3 pov’s, with precision past/present switches, so we experience each relationship firsthand. We feel the happiness, the joy, the pain, the sadness, and the hope from each character, and let us tell you, no feelings are spared as the story reaches it’s heartbreaking yet poignantly beautiful crescendo – overpowering us with profound emotion. Alix’s pain radiated from the pages, her emotions laid raw and bare for us to feel, and feel them we did.

“No, I don’t want to run….unless it’s toward you, and then my answer is yes.”

We don’t want to say any more about this story – Marni Mann has been careful with the synopsis so as not to give anything away, and we truly believe the feelings you’ll experience are infinitely intensified by allowing the author and her characters to lead you through.

Needless to say, we were swept up in When Ashes Fall from the very first page, reading it in one sitting, unable to move until we reached the end. And then, through tears, we wanted to go back and start again and relive every moment, to once again be consumed by this author’s stirring story.

‘There were so many questions I wanted to ask, starting with her pain, where it had come from, what it was.’

As battered and bruised as our hearts were, they were also completely fulfilled and…well, happy and thankful. We learnt that life is full of moments. Some pass without notice, others with monumental impact and this story is about embracing every one of those moments no matter how beautiful or painful they are.

‘This was another moment…’

Every once and while we come across that rare book. The one that reminds us of why we have the overpowering ache to read and feel. When Ashes Fall is one of those books! Read it, live it, treasure it.