He kills in silence. She speaks to the part of him he thought was dead. Damian Hale was never meant to feel. Raised in the shadows of violence, trained to obey without question, and shaped by the hands of a man who saw him as nothing more than a weapon, Damian doesn't dream, doesn't hope—and certainly doesn't love. The world taught him to survive, not to feel. And for thirty-five years, that's exactly what he's done. Until her. Ivy Monroe is twenty-one, all color and chaos, with a smile too wide for the world she doesn't yet understand. When their paths cross by accident, she's drawn to the quiet intensity behind his cold eyes. He tries to push her away. She keeps coming back. What begins as curiosity becomes connection. And soon, against everything he's learned, Damian finds himself unraveling—one glance, one question, one moment at a time. But Ivy doesn't know the truth. She doesn't know that the man holding her heart is a killer. She doesn't know the blood on his hands isn't just metaphorical. As her world slowly collides with the one he's tried so hard to keep buried, secrets begin to surface—and so do choices. When Ivy uncovers the truth, will she run from the darkness… or be the only one who dares to love it? And for Damian, can a man raised in death truly build a life around love? Or will he destroy the only light that ever dared to reach him? A Heart Full of Ashes is a dark, emotional, and deeply human story about trauma, guilt, and the fragile kind of love that asks you to choose: redemption or ruin. Perfect for fans of: Slow-burn romance with psychological depth Morally grey heroes and strong, compassionate heroines Redemption arcs that hit deep Emotional storytelling with tension, tenderness, and a touch of danger Content warning: Contains mature themes, including emotional trauma, violence, and morally complex choices. Recommended for readers 17+.