We all seem to know, or know of someone, who has been through a time of hardship and/or sorrow who thinks there could not be a caring God to have let these things happen. What then needs to be learned is that He is there, a caring Father, to see us through it and trust in Him for all of our care. We have to learn that yes we are unworthy, but Jesus took our place and died for us. And that we need to be glad of that and allow ourselves to be set free. To reach out and know that the love is there for us to take. In this story there are two young people who were forced to part, each have their own hardship, but then later come back together. Learning to cope and trust doesn't come easy, but in this place they are guided and taught, letting each love again.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Really enjoyed this book.

Journey of healing, love and redemption. Out Of The Ashes by Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse is the second book in the Heart Of Alaska series following In The Shadow of Denali. If you enjoyed the first book in the series, you will absolutely love this one.

Jean-Michel and Katherine Demarchis were once in love, but Katherines dad tore them apart and forced her to marry a senator who turned into a very abusive demon. After the accidental death of her parents and the death of her husband, Katherine is left alone with her elderly grandmother whose sole purpose is to lead Katherine to God and eventually back to first love Jean-Michel. They are both haunted by their past, can they both rediscover the the true love and bond they once had?

Her grandmother carefully plans a trip with good intentions to Curry, Alaska. Than she reaches out to Jean-Michel who is living in France and raising his 19 year old sister, Collette, who only thins of herself. They also lost their parents. The letter arrives at just about the same time Collette is begging her brother to take a trip to America. However, the letter contained only one ticket to Alaska. His sister found the letter and the ticket and Jean-Michel finally realizes he would need to take Collette with him to curve her excitment for adventure.

I really enjoyed reading Out Of The Ashes, because it is a reminder that without God nothing is possible. We all need to have faith and trust that God will get us through even the toughest of times.

Strongly recommend the book.

I received a copy of the book from the publishers. All opinions are my own.

Out of the Ashes has such a shocking out of the sky, blasting, pounding with your heart beat beginning, your heart is stunned and broken, then it is immediately contrasted with heartbreak, but then you have two peoples stories - Jean -Michel's and Katherine's. Poor Jean-Michel goes through something so very traumatic - something I never want to ever go through but something - I am sad to say - exactly that so many are going through today that he went through in 1925. Now Katherine - she went through something that many people have gone through - but I am sorry they have gone through it - After all that they visit Alaska - while there Katherine sees someone - a man - from her past and Jean-Michel sees someone from his nightmares - Can he handle it? Well with GOD all things are possible because you can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens you - so ...........what will happen to them both when their pasts catch up to them? I received a copy of this book from the Publisher and from Netgalley; all the opinions expressed in this review are all my own.

One of the perks of jumping into a series after the books have all been released is that you get to read them all right away. I was glad that even though the books are intended to also be able to be read as standalones, many of the characters of the first book were present in this one and I was glad to be revisited by them. Towards the beginning I wasn't sure if I was going to fall into this one as deeply as the first book, but oh boy did it grip my attention once it had it!

Without sharing the labels this novel touched on some more difficult topics like PTSD and domestic violence. It's safe to say there were some pretty intense emotions that the characters were wrestling with as they desperately sought peace and healing. God wasn't forced upon them but seeds were sown that eventually started to take root and it wasn't until they looked up that things started to improve around them. I appreciated that it wasn't made into a miraculous "I'm a Christian now so all my pain and struggles have disappeared" type of healing. Faith in Jesus restores our relationship with the Father but it doesn't immediately fix all of our earthly struggles. Hedoeswork in us and through us, but there are things he may not heal us from in this lifetime. It reminds me of the passage in 2 Corinthians 12 when Paul asks God for healing from a thorn in his flesh. God's response is"My graceis sufficient for you, for my poweris made perfect in weakness." Whatever his ailment was, his weakness continually reminded him of his need for Christ. Hecouldn't do it all on his own, but he also wasn't meant to. Y'all, I think this is a message we could all use a reminder of every now and then.

I truly adored the cast of characters in this book. I especially loved the witty banter between them that proved they were more than just co-workers and friends, but a sort of family. Their care and concern for one another was refreshing to see. The growth that was able to happen in them through the fellowship and spiritual encouragement of one another was also a wonderful thing to witness. I already know I'm going to have a difficult time letting these characters go once I finish the next and final book in the series.

Historical fiction fans? Read this series! I highly recommend it. I will be digging into the next book as soon as I finish this review :)