Out of the Ashes: A Christian Romance Novella

By A.B. Proebstel

***From a USA Today Bestselling Author!***

A story about old friendships, a past not soon forgotten, and finding what they didn't know they could have.

Melissa

I finally landed my dream job, put my college degree to good use, and I even managed to be near my beloved airplanes.

I wanted a fresh start in a new town, but I never wanted to lose everything in the process.How could fate be this cruel after I'd endured so much already?

Jake

I tried to put as much distance between the mistakes of my past and the one girl who still haunted me.

But fate had other plans for my future.

Would I ever be able to make amends for the pain I'd caused?

Out of the Ashes will capture you from page one. This novella is filled with friendship, witty banter, and swoon-worthy romance.

Enjoy this wonderful short story. Grab your copy TODAY!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cavaliers Publishing
• Release date: Feb 14, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215107348

Book preview

Out of the Ashes

A Christian Romance Novella

A. B. Proebstel

Cavaliers Publishing

Out of the Ashes Copyright © 2023 by A. B. Proebstel through Cavaliers Publishing

All rights reserved. The events, characters, and entities depicted in this book are fictional. Any resemblance or similarity to any actual events, entities, or persons, whether living or dead, is entirely coincidental. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. All inquiries should be submitted to [e-mail].

Printed in the United States of America

First Printing, 2022

Website: https://geni.us/LOA-Home

BookBub: https://geni.us/BBFollow

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/aproebstel

Facebook: https://geni.us/FB-LOA

Twitter: https://geni.us/Amy-T

Instagram: www.instagram.com/amyproebstel

Contents

1.Chapter 1

1. Melissa

2.Chapter 2

2. Jake

3.Chapter 3

3. Melissa

4.Chapter 4

4. Jake

5.Chapter 5

5. Melissa

6.Chapter 6

6. Jake

7.Chapter 7

7. Melissa

8.Chapter 8

8. Jake

9.Chapter 9

9. Melissa

10.Chapter 10

10. Jake

Epilogue

Three Months Later — Melissa

About the Author

Also By

Amy Proebstel

Chapter 1

image-placeholder

Melissa

Acrid smoke filled the valley, clinging to my clothes and hair as it obliterated the view beyond thirty feet.

The air was thick with the scent of charred wood and smoldering ash, a constant reminder of the destruction that had befallen our idyllic countryside. I’d always admired the beauty of the Willamette Valley, but now it was unrecognizable.

The stern face of a fireman peered at my driver’s license, his eyes tired but vigilant. You’re clear, ma’am. Be careful in there, he warned, waving me through the checkpoint.

I rounded the bend in the road, my hands trembling on the steering wheel. The scenery was gutted, as if a ferocious beast had torn through the landscape. A pang of grief struck me as I caught sight of the historic general store, reduced to nothing but a fieldstone chimney.

The car slowed to a crawl as my gaze searched for the log cabin behind it. Desperation clung to my hope, but the smoking embers and charred remains spoke the heart-wrenching truth. Tears welled in my eyes, blurring my vision.

No colors survived beneath the heavy blanket of smoke. Even the sun, usually so bright and warm at midday, refused to penetrate the darkness. My mind was a whirl of fear and disbelief as I navigated closer to my home. Surely, my quaint cottage had miraculously survived this fiery Armageddon.

One more street, a left turn, four driveways to go. The familiar landmarks were now grotesque and alien. I stopped the car, my breath caught in my throat, staring at the emptiness where my dream home once stood. It was gone. Heck, the whole town had burned.

The silence was broken only by the distant crackling of dying fires.

The mountain wildfires raging east of town had seemed distant, irrelevant as I took the weekend off to relax at the coast. I had been blissfully unplugged, enjoying the serenity of the ocean waves.

But now, the reality hit me with crushing force.

Other than my car, purse, overnight bag, and the clothes on my back, I’d lost everything.

Why this weekend? Why had I chosen to escape when my whole life was being consumed by flames?

Numbly, I found myself standing outside my car, the door left open in my haste or shock—I couldn’t