Absolutely adored everything about this story. I’m convinced Jewel E. Ann can do no wrong.
It was funny, it was sweet and spicy, and there was so much emotion crammed into this book I felt every single feeling reading Ozzy and Maren’s story.
I was gripped from page one and all three of these main characters have my heart.

Not only was this a love story with the funniest, most relatable meet cute that become a running joke through out, it was also a story of loss, of grief, of trauma and how it can all change you as a person. The arc for these characters was one that gave me literal goosebumps… the healing made me cry happy tears.

An absolute must read for sure.

3.75-4 ⭐️

I’m conflicted on how to rate this because I liked it but there were so many weird elements to it that it kind of threw me off. The weird relationship between Ozzy and Tia, the writing seemed off, and the insta love was so off brand for a Jewel E.Ann book that it just didn’t seem genuine.

The last 20-30% of the book got progressively better and the parts between Maren and Lola were so adorable. It was so beautiful to see that relationship form, even more so than Maren and Ozzy which says something about the lack of relationship building between the FMC/MMC.

Over all I really liked the ending but it’s not my favourite JEA book.

This was my first time reading a book by Jewel E. Ann, and I was completely surprised by the story.

From Nowhere is an emotional journey where we follow Maren, a woman who unexpectedly falls for Ozzy, a man trying to navigate life with his young daughter, Lola, after the loss of his wife.

The story explores their romance, from crazy meet cutes to secret meetings. Their relationship is complicated by the emotional baggage each of them carry, making it beautifully complex, brimming with chemistry, playfulness, and genuine connection.

Maren instantly wins you over with her confidence, authenticity, and ability to navigate awkward situations with grace. I really liked seeing how her vulnerability shines through as she connects with both Ozzy and his daughter, Lola. She’s a character you can’t help but root for, and her growth throughout the story adds a layer of depth to the narrative.

While I deeply enjoyed most aspects of From Nowhere, there was one particular storyline that left me feeling conflicted: Ozzy's choice near the end of the book. Though I understood the reasoning behind his decision, it still felt incomprehensible and painful. I wish we would have more time exploring his choices before any forgiveness was offered. I felt the decision was rushed, and as much as I sympathized with Ozzy, I couldn't fully reconcile with the way it played out. This choice overshadowed some of the emotional connection I had with the characters, and I found myself questioning the depth of their bond, especially in relation to Maren's need for confirmation of Ozzy’s feelings. Ultimately, it was a story element that, while understandable, didn't sit well with me and made it harder to fully embrace the end.

One of my favorite characters was Lola’s. Her relationship with Ozzy is deeply moving, showing the lengths to which her father will go to protect and love her. Then we have Lola’s bond with Maren, their relationship was my favorite thing about the story. Maren becomes a source of both tenderness and courage for Lola.

Overall, From Nowhere was a sweet, adorable read, and it’s safe to say I’ll be looking for more of Ann’s work in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Valentine PR for a complementary copy, all my thoughts are my own.

3,5✨

Quick Summary: A love after loss romance

My Review: From Nowhere by Jewel E. Ann is book #2 in the Wildfire series.

About the Book: "...sparks fly during an awkward meet-cute with a stranger in the bathroom, and suddenly anything seems possible."

In My Own Words: A bathroom debacle. Two strangers. A work situation. Instant attraction. Great chemistry. An adorable kiddo. Tense grandparents. Loss of a parent. Grief and bitterness. Fear and encouragement. Strength and courage. Beautiful conversations. Flowers and rain. Sunshine and smiles. Healing and reconciliation. Family. Love.

My Final Say: This wonderful story was a life and love after loss masterpiece. It was such a love supreme romance. The story was realistic and moving. I loved it!

Reasons I enjoyed this book:

Happily Ever After
Realistic
Easy-to-read
Wonderful characters
Tear-jerker
Romantic

Rating: 5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Keeper: Yes
Status/Level: 💖

Sincere appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (Montlake), and to NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to review this title. It was a pleasure. I look forward to continuing this series.

this was such a beautiful story. it highlights grief and healing. It’s about the ability to continue living your life after a tragedy and battling internal conflict as a parent. Jewel E. Ann was able to depict all these feelings into this book in a way where it was easy to see what these characters were going through.

I absolutely loved Maren. She had so much patience and grace for Ozzy as he was trying to figure out his way through dating after his late wife passed and trying his best to put his daughter and her healing first. She brings a light that Ozzy and Lola both needed. With Maren’s kindness, they were able to heal and start a new chapter together 🫶🏻

As all Jewel E. Ann books usually do, this book brought me tears, laughter and a little bit of heartbreak !! I just wanted to wrap Ozzy in a big blanket and give a million forehead kisses to Lola and Maren.

FROM NOWHERE
By: Jewel E Ann
📆Pub Date: 3/4/25
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book #2 of the Wildfire🔥 series was absolutely amazing 😍

We go back to a small town in Montana where single dad Ozzy is an aircraft mechanic. He and his daughter only ride bikes everywhere after losing his wife in a car accident a couple years ago. He meets Maren, an air tanker pilot, in possibly the best and sweetest meet cute ever😂😍

I am obsessed with this series!! These characters I have absolutely fallen in love with! I could not put this book down! The heartbreak, the humor and banter to the healing the characters go through 🥹❤️‍🩹 This book is absolute perfection 👌🏼
Jewel E Ann has quickly become a favorite author!! I just wish I hadn’t waited so long to read her books! I have quite the backlist to make my way through 😉

Thank you so much Montlake, NetGalley and ValentinePR for the eARC of this book!!

Maren is a person you cannot help but admire both when it comes to her career as a pilot and how generous she is when it comes to those she cares about. When she meets Ozzy there is no denying the connection, she feels for him, but she also understands the position he is in and chooses to be supportive rather than demanding.

After his wife passed away Ozzy’s only focus is on helping his daughter Lola heal even if that meant living with his in-laws. Maren is the first woman to make him feel since his wife and even though his situation is beyond complicated, she shows him how to live again.

The interactions between them are fun and flirty but their story also has an intense emotional aspect to it. Theirs is a story about love, healing, and new beginnings that you do not want to miss.

Oh my gosh! This series has been absolutely amazing and From Nowhere just truly wowed me and blew my mind!

Ozzy and Lola are just two people going through life and surviving after a tragic accident. Then enter Maren and both of their lives change.

Maren and Ozzy are just amazing together and I love the relationship they build. Lola is so cute and I love the way Maren is with her.

I always love a relationship that is hard and has uphill battles, Maren and Ozzy don’t have it easy and I love how they build and climb that hill to be together.

From Nowhere is book two in the amazing Wildfire series by Jewel E. Ann.
The story was just amazing and lighthearted and I had a good time reading it.
This was a wonderfully written romance.
I absolutely loved these characters and really enjoyed getting to know them.
A sweet, engaging and heartwarming read!
Such an emotional rollercoaster.
If you haven’t read book one From Air…. Oh my goodness it was just as good.

Maren accepts a new job at Cielo Aviation and awkwardly gets some help from air mechanic Ozzy. Grief and hardship has been something Ozzy has been dealing with since the loss of his wife in a car accident and his daughter Lola, suffering and having visible scars. The last thing Ozzy expected was for them to become something, especially when he’s felt enormous guilt since his wife passed.

The amount of emotion this book has made me feel, from Maren showing Ozzy and his daughter that it’s okay to be brave, scared, for life to be messy, and still be able to move on towards what their fears is holding them back on. What a beautifully written story about loss, healing, bravery, and a second chance at love.

🩵 Single dad
🤍 Love after loss
🩵 Small town
🤍 Workplace romance
🩵 Secret relationship

Thank you to Valentine pr, netgalley, and Jewel for the arc!

𝑭𝑹𝑶𝑴 𝑵𝑶𝑾𝑯𝑬𝑹𝑬 by @authorjeweleann

🗓️ 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝟰𝘁𝗵 - 𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗢𝗗𝗔𝗬!

📄 347

4.5 ⭐️

𝕎𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕥𝕠 𝕖𝕩𝕡𝕖𝕔𝕥:
✈️ Love after Loss
🔥 Single Dad
✈️ Tanker Pilot x Airplane Mechanic
🔥 Secret, Workplace Romance
✈️ Small Town
🔥 Angst
✈️ Tragic Past

🔥𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝟸 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚆𝚒𝚕𝚍𝚏𝚒𝚛𝚎 𝚂𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜🔥

Ozzy is an airplane mechanic, widower, and single dad to a sassy and lovable 10 year old, Lola. The accident that claim the life of her mother also left Lola with not only emotional but physical scars. Ozzy works tirelessly to be the best parent he can be for Lola, she is his one and only priority. Everything changes when a hilarious meet cute at work leads tanker pilot, Maren into their lives. From Nowhere is an unforgettable story of love after loss, healing, and hope.

Lola. She’s the star of the show. She’s such an incredible and strong little girl. She’s got sass for days and is wise beyond her years. Lola kept me laughing from cover to cover!

𝓙𝓮𝔀𝓮𝓵 𝓔. 𝓐𝓷𝓷 delivers yet again. I was so excited to get back to Missoula. From Nowhere is such an amazing story. The banter off the charts. It was an emotional roller coaster I did not want off of! As always, there were so many layers to this story and it was amazing from start to finish.

5 Stars!
Maren Bernabe is a tanker pilot for Cielo Aviation. She's never wanted to do anything but fly planes, and loves her job. She's been fighting fires over the Montana wilderness for about seven years. She has great friends, and two of the guys she works with are her roommates. Life is good, and she's happily single. Then she meets a kind stranger in an awkward moment. Ozzy is an aircraft mechanic at Cielo. She's not looking for love, but he excites her, and she can't stop thinking about him.

Ozzy Laster lives in a small town called Missoula. His life was turned upside down two years ago when he lost his wife in a car accident. He's navigating this new journey as a single dad, and rebuilding his life with his ten year old daughter Lola. She's his entire world. With life so complicated, he hasn't been dating. Then he meets a woman he's not prepared for. Maren is like a breath of fresh air, and makes him smile. After their embarrassing first encounter, it's effortless between them. If only there weren't outside forces making things difficult for them to explore these new feelings. Will their relationship end in heartbreak, or will they fight for love?

From Nowhere by Jewel E. Ann is the second book in the Wildfire series. It's a small town, slow burn, funny meet cute, single dad, friends to lovers, workplace romance about healing, loss, second chances and embracing unexpected love. It's a heartwarming, emotional story full of humor, swoon, amazing chemistry, fabulous banter, and beautiful connections. I really enjoyed this book and adore this series! Now I just need Will's story! <333

From Nowhere
Author- Jewel E Ann
Series- The Wildfire Series Book #2 (Standalone)
Rating- 5 out of 5
Genres- Contemporary Romance
Tropes- Female Pilot & Firefighter x Mechanic, Single Widowed Father, He Falls First, Cinnamon Roll Hero, Secret Romance, Small Town, Tragic Past, Grief
Main Characters- Maren and Ozzy
Spice Level- 2/5
HEA
When I finished the first book in this in this series, From Air, I didn't think it could get any better, that I would be as obsessed with the second book as I was the first. As soon as I started From Nowhere I was truly obsessed with this book. Similar to From Air a lot of this book deals with grief and how it can take different forms for different people. In From Nowhere Ozzy's daughter, Lola, is dealing with the trauma from being in the car accident that took her mother's life in the form of her being afraid to be in a car herself and for Ozzy to be in a car as well. Ozzy is unable to say no to his daughter for the same reason. Maren is learning to move on with her life and not let her brother's death hold her back from what she wants from life. These are just simplified versions of everyone's grief, in the book they're so much more complex. I loved how devoted of a father Ozzy is to Lola, and that Maren respected that. But there were definitely times I felt he would mess up and while a perfect reason for his error, I think she should have given him at least a bit of a hard time for it. There are times when I felt she could have been at least more of a priority to him, not a top priority but just on the list.

As usual Jewel E Ann wrote a book that is touching and emotional to read, whilst at the same time full of banter and a romantic love that is worthy of six perfect flowers.

Ozzy, what a man. He is so willing to sacrifice for his daughter and I loved him for it. Lola was a breath of fresh air. Full of trauma and fear, yet this beautiful girl touched my heart with her rampant curiosity, her unfiltered opinion and of course all the advice from Dakota’s mum. Maren was the exact person the two of them needed. They all fit so well and seeing Ozzy opening up to love again was a beautiful thing. This man and his flowers and notes, I was swooning just from reading about them. Maren was a joy to read. She was funny and flirty and desperately wanting her shot at a forever love.

As you can guess I’m kinda obsessed with this book. The trauma and mental health rep, the dad who will do anything for his daughter and the love that snuck into two peoples hearts.

I received an arc from Valentine PR via Netgalley and this is my honest review.

This was such a good book. Marin is a wildfire pilot and meets Ozzy the new mechanic for the planes. Marin is drawn to him immediately. And the feeling is mutual for Ozzy. Which is the first time he’s had any interest in another women since a car accident two years ago that killed his wife and left his daughter with physical and emotional scars. And trying to navigate a new relationship while he cant drive because of his daughter’s fears, and living with his in-laws isn’t easy. I loved Ozzy. His banter with Marin is so funny. And the love and devotion he has for his daughter is heartwarming. And Marin is just as great. The amount of love and patience she has for Ozzy is amazing. After reading the first book in this series, Marin is different than what I was expecting. This is such a touching story. I can’t wait for the next one!

"It’s never the things I see coming that take my breath away. It’s the moments that come from nowhere.
A lost wallet.
A car accident.
And an empty toilet paper roll."

I would have never imagined how special this tale is as I read its first page....
Maren we already know from book #1 and she's the friend you want by your side, sassy, genuine, sometimes a mess, others a bit lost, but always lovingly supportive, she's simply life.
Ozzy is the man holding all the weight of loss, grieving his wife and carrying the grief of a child that lost its mother, of his in-laws that lost their daughter and the one of the son whose father was the catalyst for it all.
And Lola.....a ray of sunshine in two years of storm, witty, smart and wishful of normalcy and happiness.

I'm a su@ker for the small town single dad trope and I felt so good reading this book, a testament to love in all its dimensions, because it's not easy when the loss is so immense as is the belief of not being able to give enough.
I absolutely loved Maren and Ozzy's kind of meet-cute, her resilience and the fact that, very unexpectedly, she started feeling her place was with a mechanic and his precious daughter. As well, to see the recognition in Ozzy's eyes as they navigated their feelings, doubts, hope and the realization that what they had was love and meant to be, no matter what came before.

The narrative impacts at a myriad of emotions, bringing together what could perfectly be and probably wouldn't because there was never proper closure.
And what warmed me up inside was seeing three people trying earnestly making the others happy, that keept persisting, but not knowing if it would ever happen because that psychological barrier and physical step needed aknowledgement.

In the end, safe havens as magic do stem in moments that come from nowhere.

This one didn't quite hit me in the feels the same way From Air did, but I still had a good time reading it (mostly, I'll explain in a second).

In From Nowhere we follow Maren, as she falls in love with a widower called Ozzy, and changes both his and his daughter's lives for the better.

So, this book started off kind of strange, with Ozzy's daughter telling him she's totally okay with him being intimate with someone again, which I brushed off, but then they kept discussing (or rather joking about) his intimate life throughout the book which made me a bit uncomfortable.

Some of the things Lola said didn't read like something a 10 year old child would say, especially in regards to that. I feel like it would've been more appropriate for her to say she'd be okay with him dating or getting married again instead.

But otherwise, she did seem like a kid, loving sweet treats and animals, arguing about when she's supposed to shower before bed, her general excitement about the world, and her embarrassing her dad by asking too many questions while trying to find him a date.

I really liked Lola as a character, and her bond with Ozzy and Maren too. I liked the latter a bit more actually, because you could tell Lola was missing that motherly connection in her life, and she would just light up whenever Maren was around. It also helps that we got to know her in the previous book, but I don't remember if we met Ozzy? In any case, the way they all slowly became a family was my favourite part of the book.

The romance is where this gets tricky because I liked it, but I also wasn't completely feeling it. I thought their first meeting was creative, but I didn't really like them having to sneak around just because of Tia.

Speaking of, I didn't like Tia for the majority of the story, she was the only real conflict and it took something serious happening for her to finally come around. I can see her perspective, but I still feel like she should've treated Ozzy (and Maren) better.

But back to the romance, there were some cute scenes, like the flowers and the little notes, and their banter was fun, they had chemistry for sure. However, I wanted a bit more emotional depth, because they certainly connected on a physical level, but that energy wasn't fully matched emotionally.

A lot of the time, Lola was the focus of the book, as she should be. I like that she wasn't pushed to the side in favour of the romance, but I also wish that the book was longer so it would be a little more balanced.

Lola was always on Ozzy's mind, he was doing his best trying to parent her, even if what was best for her might not be what's best for him. He's a really great dad, I'm glad he got his happy ending.

I also liked Bandit the cat, the Fitz and Jamie cameos, and how trauma was handled.

There's a scene near the end that's really beautiful, you can see this character making progress bit by bit to get to that point and the reason why they finally did the thing was so precious. Be ready to shed a tear or two, I'm just saying.

So overall, I liked this, and I'm looking forward to reading Will's story (why do I feel like something is going to happen at that event we saw at the end?) and whatever other stories Jewel E. Ann sets in this world.

3.5

*Thank you to the author, publishers and Valentine PR for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

4.5stars-FROM NOWHERE is the second instalment in Jewel E Ann’s contemporary, adult WILDFIRE erotic, romance serles. This is thirty six year old single father and mechanic Ozzy Laster, and thirty-three year old pilot Maren Bernabe’s story line. FROM NOWHERE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Ozzy and Maren) FROM NOWHERE follows the building but struggling relationship between our story line couple. Approximately two years earlier, Ozzy Laster lost both his wife and his father in an automobile accident, an accident that left their eight year old daughter with both physical and emotional scars. Fast forward to present day, Ozzy finds himself attracted to one of the tanker pilots who flies in and out of raging wildfires but Ozzy is struggling in the wake of losing everything two years before. Not only has Ozzy struggled but his now ten year old daughter is unable to move on from the past. As Ozzy and Maren’s relationship begins to grow, the grief and guilt begin to eat at our hero, with a little help from the people at home.

The world building focuses on one families inability to let go. From the in-laws who place the blame on an innocent man, determined to control every aspect of his life; to a young girl so traumatized, her struggles affect not only her family but the woman with whom her father is falling in love. Maren’s job is dangerous, and in this, the future is not always a guarantee. There is no timeline on grief or guilt and in this, family and friends struggle to accept the lingering problems.

The relationship between Ozzy and Maren begins quite humorously but quickly devolves in the face of Ozzy’s dysfunctional family dynamics; his daughter’s overwhelming fear of losing everyone she loves; and our hero’s inability to stand up for himself. While Maren falls for a man who is struggling to heal, Ozzy is impotent and powerless to move on with his life. A bit of a doormat for his mother-in-laws control, Ozzy’s failure to take control begins to affect every aspect of his life. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

The secondary and supporting characters include the return of Jamie and Fitz (From Air 1) , thirty-seven year old Engine Chief / firefighter Will Landry, as well as the introduction of Ozzy’s in-laws Tia and Amos, his daughter Lola, and fellow mechanic Diego.

FROM NOWHERE is a slow building story of death and suffering, grief and guilt, family and friendships, acceptance and love. The premise is emotional and heart breaking; the romance is captivating; the characters are desperate, broken and struggling to heal.



THE READING CAFÉ: https://www.thereadingcafe.com/from-no-where-wildfire-2-by-jewel-e-ann-review/


GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7020891896


BOOKBUB: https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/1194143890

My first 5 star read of 2025!

If you haven’t checked out this series yet, I suggest you start now!

Jewel had me feeling every emotion possible with this one. I laughed, I teared up, I was angry, I was heartbroken, and yet, I was mended back together. I love a strong fmc and it’s easy to say, Maren is nothing short of a badass. It was impossible not to love Lola, she was the typical no filter 10 year old. I wish men like Ozzy truly existed. He had me head over heels. He is truly so patient, understanding, and loving. And then there was Tia, who had me wanting to throw my kindle into a fire.

This one is full of past trauma, loss, mourning, healing, and simply how to push forward. I will be thinking about Ozzy, Maren, and Lola’s love story for a while. But that’s the power of Jewel E Ann as an author.

Oh my goodness my heart. I am deeply in love with this series and I never want it to end, but also I need the third book.. immediately because I don't want to leave these characters ever.
Maren and Ozzy had experienced such great losses and their love came from nowhere (yes, each time he said how she came from nowhere I swooned and had that AHA moment where the title made complete sense), but they deserved this chance they were given. The wrench thrown into this plan was not as much his daughter, but his mother in law. His daughter was still not healed from her mother's death and accident, but it was her mother that I hurt for the most. She couldn't see past her own grief and it was hard to witness this even in a book. If we don't move past the event then maybe that person isn't really gone, but they are, and the grief will always live there, but we can't live in the grief and we deserve more than that. This book was, just as all of Jewel's books are, an emotional roller coaster that ends in a warm hug.
These two were older so I was super happy to see the communication and emotional intelligence was higher than most books. Goodness I loved this.
Thanks to Montlake, Netgalley and Jewel E Ann for an early copy.