This book was everything. An amazing story from start to finish, I really enjoyed. 5 stars. I love this author.
I received an ARC copy of this book from Valentine PR and Netgalley in exchange for an honesto voluntary review.

FROM NOWHERE by Jewel E. Ann

Romance
Wildfire series book 2

“…I’d rather be with a man that keeps me on my toes than sweeps me off my feet…”

Did I cry? Yep
Did I stay up way too late reading? Yep
So far I’m consistent with my Jewel E. Ann books, that have me not being able to put them down, and taking me on an emotional rollercoaster. And what a ride…!

Lovers of the single dad trope, I don’t know if you’re ready. Gah! Ozzy is…something, let me tell ya. The relationship and dynamics between him and Lola, I could not get enough. Lola was such a sweet and sassy little thing, I wanted to hug her and high-five her so many times.

I was 2% into the book, and I was cackling out loud. JEA’s writing just grabs your attention and doesn’t let go. Characters are written to be great on their own, and then add in the banter and chemistry, and it’s just perfection. Ozzy and Maren had it all, including a hilarious meet-cute.


🛩️ dual POV
🛠️ badass tanker pilot x cinnamon roll mechanic
🛩️ slow burn (that build up…😮‍💨)
🛠️ single dad
🛩️ secret romance
🛠️ grief, trauma, healing
🛩️ Bandit Mouse Bernabe 🐈
🛠️ handwritten notes

“…there’s nothing more epic than falling in love with someone that loved my daughter first…”


Thank you to the author, Valentine pr and NetGalley for the ARC


CW: death of a loved one (parent/wife/daughter/son); accident/hospitalization

Jewel E. Ann does it again! She has quickly become a must-read author for me and this book is no exception.

From Nowhere is a beautiful story, filled with great banter, heartbreaking tragedy and two people who are figuring out what love means to them.

Whether that is Ozzie, who’s figuring out what a second love could look like for him; a single dad with a daughter still dealing with the trauma of losing her mom. Or Maren, who loves adventure, her intense job and exploring the world, while she decides what being with someone like Ozzie would mean.

Also, as much as I loved Ozzie and Maren, I can’t leave out Ozzie’s daughter, Lola. The way she just wants her dad to be happy; the way she’s facing her loss; the bravery of a little girl who has been through so much. I just want to love on these characters!

This book had me laughing and crying and laughing again! 4.5/5 ⭐️s!

Ozzy lost his wife two years ago in a car accident, and is now a single dad. His daughter Lola is traumatized by the accident and won’t get in a car. So Ozzy and Lola rode bicycles everywhere. This alone made me love Ozzy. He is committed to his daughter’s healing journey and refuses to push her. Even when his MIL, who lives with him to help, insists. 

He meets Maren at work, in an unconventional way. I loved the meet cute between Ozzy and Maren. They immediately hit it off with playful banter. I could feel their chemistry right away. Maren is a tanker pilot. She flies the planes and Ozzy is the mechanic, keeping them in top shape.

Maren and Lola form a wonderful relationship too, and Maren really wants to give it a shot with Ozzy. His life is complicated, and my heart broke for him a few times. He was in an impossible situation, and deserved happiness too. 

I loved this book so much. It was a beautiful story of parenthood, grief, healing, love, and sacrifice. Another Jewel E. Ann book that I absolutely devoured. Again, I beg you to read a JEA book!

Jewel E. Ann delivers another emotionally charged love story in From Nowhere, the second book in the Wildfire series. This novel brings together two beautifully complex characters—Maren, a fiercely independent fire-fighting tanker pilot, and Ozzy, a grieving widower and devoted single father. Their journey is one of fate, healing, and unexpected love that burns as intensely as the wildfires Maren helps extinguish.

Maren isn't looking for love. She's strong, self-sufficient, and thrives on adrenaline, whether in the air or in life. Ozzy, on the other hand, has been surviving rather than living since losing his wife in a tragic car accident—an event that left not only a hole in his heart but also deep emotional and physical scars on his daughter, Lola. When Maren and Ozzy cross paths, neither is prepared for the instant spark that ignites between them, and even less so for the way Lola is drawn to Maren. The little girl, who has been hesitant to let anyone in, finds in Maren the comfort and warmth she’s been missing, and soon, the three of them form an unspoken bond.

What makes this story shine is its depth. From Nowhere isn't just about romance—it's about grief, resilience, and the transformative power of love. Ozzy’s struggle with moving on, Lola’s need for stability, and Maren’s fears of vulnerability all create a compelling and heart-wrenching dynamic. Their love story is messy, complicated, and real, but it’s also breathtakingly beautiful.

Jewel E. Ann masterfully balances emotional intensity with swoon-worthy romance. Ozzy is the kind of single dad who will steal your heart, and watching him fall for Maren—despite his fears—makes for a deeply satisfying read. And Maren? She’s a force of nature, but it’s her unexpected tenderness with Lola and Ozzy that truly makes her unforgettable.

If you love heartfelt, slow-burning romances with strong heroines, devoted single dads, and emotional depth, From Nowhere is a must-read. It will make you swoon, tug at your heartstrings, and leave you believing in the power of love to heal even the deepest wounds.

A wonderful story about second chances and overcoming your fears. Ozzy is a single father trying to be and do everything for his daughter. After a tragic car accident took her mother away from them, both Ozzy and their daughter are surviving. She was in the car and has anxiety that she lose him, so neither one will get in a car. They ride bicycles together. When he meets Maren, he is drawn to her right away.

Ozzy deals with guilt, hope and parenthood. His ex-in-laws are helping him and she is resentful and blames him for the accident. Maren just wants to get to know Ozzy and falls for both him and his daughter. Navigating a relationship with a single dad is hard enough, but she also has to deal with people who don’t want him to move on, his daughter and finding ways to be together.

A wonderful story about finding a new normal after loss. I laughed, cried and found myself being hopeful that they could find a way to be together. I received an ARC and this is my honest, voluntary review.

Rating: 5/5 Stars
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Maren isn't sure if she hit it off with a guy during a very awkward meet-cute in the bathroom, but when she bumps into him shortly after and they exchange numbers there is no second-guessing. Maren is an air tanker pilot, flying planes and releasing fire retardant over wildfires in Montana wilderness. Ozzy is the stranger she meets and he happens to be a new aircraft mechanic who lost his wife and father in a car accident two-years-ago. Now he's a single dad to 10-year-old, Lola, and everyone is trying to protect her from more heartbreak.

This is the second book in the Wildfire series (the first book was From Air and was also 5 stars!). I loved Maren's story - she is such a strong female character (female air tanker pilot?! Yes!) and her chemistry with Ozzy was amazing. Her relationship with Ozzy's daughter was also very sweet. All the characters had suffered immense tragedies in their lives, so not surprisingly this was a complicated emotional read. They still had lighthearted, flirty, banter moments (which were excellent, of course), but also addressing grief and mental health, including for Ozzy, which is so important to see to male mental health acknowledged in books! Lola was a character, very precocious, but she is also getting to that pre-teen age, so it was believable. Overall, this book just had a lot of heart and I absolutely recommend reading this series!

Thank you Valentine PR, NetGalley, and Jewel E. Ann for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

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.