Ashes Ashes

Hostage Negotiation Team #2

By: Julie Coulter Bellon

Narrated by: Simon Pringle-Wallace

Are you ever really innocent until proven guilty?

Sophia Naziri is wanted for questioning in the murder of a US senator. She's worried the police will show up on her doorstep any moment, but when Detective Colby Black appears, it's to help her put out a kitchen fire, not take her in. Yet. His easy smile and persistence in getting to know her pushes all her troubles to the back of her mind, until a hit man tracks her down. Getting arrested becomes the least of her worries and the handsome detective could be her only way out - if she tells him the truth.

Colby Black's sniper skills have been a blessing and a curse to him. As a member of a hostage negotiation team, he can use them to save people, but sometimes he can't protect the innocent despite his best efforts. When a hostage situation goes bad, he tries to put it behind him by helping out his mysterious next-door neighbor, Sophia Naziri. But she pulls Colby into a web of lies and conspiracy that will force him to use every skill he has in order to survive. Faced with the moment of truth, can he trust anyone around him - including the woman at the center of it all?

©2013 Julie Coulter Bellon (P)2015 Julie Coulter Bellon

Suspense

An interesting romantic suspense. This is the second I’ve read in this series. I liked the first one a little bit better (I liked the main characters more). It was a good suspense. I will continue reading this series.

Great Story & Narration

Ashes To Ashes
Colby feels like he failed on the last assignment. To combat his stress he cleans and bakes cinnamon rolls. Along with helping a neighbor put out a pan fire. Then going back with takeout, helping her clean. Next thing someone is out to get her, or what she has. Catching a taxi, she felt like she could breathe now, someone was watching her. Finding out that they want her for questioning of a murder, and now is missing. Once again Colby feels like he failed a woman. Good twist and turns of how this is going to turn out.
Great Story and Narration. Given ARC audio for my voluntary review and my honest opinion

Lots of suspense with a little romance

Are you ever really innocent until proven guilty? That's the fear Sophia Naziri has. She's innocent but will anyone listen to her and check out her story, or will they just go by the evidence they have that makes her look guilty?

This is a great romantic suspense and the second book in the Hostage Negotiation Team series. Sophia is on the run hiding out after a U.S. senator is killed. Unfortunately or fortunately for her, the house she's in is right next door to Colby Black, a detective and member of the hostage negotiation team. He gets pulled into Sophia's situation and because he believes her, helps to prove her innocence. Right now he's the only person she can trust.

This is a fast paced story with some twists and turns. It definitely kept my attention. The characters are multidimensional and not "cookie-cutter" at all. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was great. He really did a wonderful job and kept me interested the entire time.

Fun, non-stop action with romance

I loved this story! In fact, it might be my favorite Julie Coulter Bellon book. I loved the action, the romance, and the characters. Colby- I love Colby! Sigh. I need a man that cooks and clean and is a handsome, tough marine. Simon Pringle-Wallace did a great job narrating this fabulous story. Listen to this book!

So Entertaining!

Would you listen to Ashes Ashes again? Why?

I read this book before listening to the audio book so the actual story wasn't a surprise but I really loved listening to someone else read me this story. Obviously, I loved the book or I wouldn't have spent the time listening to it later. This book was so perfect for my road trip. I didn't quite get it finished on the road trip so I finished it up at home while ironing and cooking. I loved it.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Colby was my favorite character, hands down. I love his fierce dedication to doing the right thing. He is a protector and just an all around great guy.

What does Simon Pringle-Wallace bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

This is the second book I've listened to that has been narrated by Simon Pringle- Wallace. I love his voice. He does a fantastic job.

Any additional comments?

This series is one of my very favorites. This story has excellent forward movement and I was engaged from beginning to end.

Action, suspense, and romance

What I liked or found interesting:

• The hostage situation at the beginning of this story drew the reader into the story instantly. You could instantly feel the anxiety and tension of the situation.
• There was lots of intrigue.
• There were many twists and turns to the plot. Lots of suspense, excitement, and action.
• The secondary players in this were varied, well developed, and interesting. They added depth to the storyline.
• I sensed there was a traitor in the police or homeland security force. I kept trying to guess if there was one. If so, who could it be?
• The romance between Sophia and Colin was one that the reader wanted to be successful.
• The descriptions of locations and emotions were well done, easy to visualize, and to feel. I felt a part of the scenes.
• The pacing of this story was good. It was neither too fast nor too slow.
• There was a smooth, coherent flow to this book. The author was a great writer.
• This was a clean read and I appreciated that.
• The narrator did an excellent job in differentiating the various characters' voices. He made the story come alive. He had a pleasant voice to listen to and I will be looking forward to listening to more books narrated by Simon Pringle-Wallace.


At my request, I was given a free copy of this audiobook from the author. I have voluntarily left my review and my opinions were my own. I will be reading or listening to more books written by this author, because I enjoy her writing so much.

I liked it

What made the experience of listening to Ashes Ashes the most enjoyable?

I appreciated Mr Wallace's interpretation of the novel

Who was your favorite character and why?

Colby, because wow. He's one of a kind fantastic.

Have you listened to any of Simon Pringle-Wallace’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I actually preferred his performance in Ashes, Ashes, to the novella I listened to before.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The climax of the story really had me on the edge of my seat. I wasn't sure how Sophia was going to get out of her predicament.

Any additional comments?

Overall, this made for a great afternoon's listen. Good book, good performance by the narrator. I recommend it.

amazing book!

julie coulter bellon has done it again! I love her books. I have read this book and I think I enjoyed listening to it even more than reading it. the narrator is great! julie has found a winner in the narrator, he is excellent at it and has read several of her books. If you enjoy suspense you will love this book and any book by julie.

enjoyable suspenseful action romance

An amazing well written gripping action suspense military romance.  This engaging storyline is full of intrigue, excitement, suspense, action,and twists and turns keeping me addicted page after page.  The narration is well done giving perfect emotions, making it easy to visualize the descriptions and locations making you vividly feeling the scenes.  The characters are realistic well developed and had chemistry.