Category Archives: 3 Flames

UNLEASHED
Wolf Spring Chronicles #1
Author(s): Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie
Genre: Young Adult/Paranormal
Source: Amazon Vine
*I received this ARC free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

Reading level: Ages 12 and up
Hardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (November 22, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0385740980
ISBN-13: 978-0385740982

Katelyn McBride’s life changed in an instant when her mother died. Uprooted from her California home, Katelyn was shipped to the middle of nowhere, Arkansas, to her only living relative, her grandfather. And now she has to start over in Wolf Springs, a tiny village in the Ozark Mountains. Like any small town, Wolf Springs has secrets. But the secrets hidden here are more sinister than Katelyn could ever imagine. It’s a town with a history that reaches back centuries, spans continents, and conceals terrifying truths. And Katelyn McBride is about to change everything.

Broken families, ageless grudges, forced alliances, and love that blooms in the darkest night—welcome to Wolf Springs.

When I first saw this books cover, I thought it was beautiful!  I loved the head tilt on the girl with the guys hand supporting her, the moon in the background and the dark and eerie feeling the rest of the cover gives.  It screams paranormal romance to me.


When Katelyn moves into her Grandfathers home after the death of her mother, she feels out of place and depressed from having to leave her happy life behind.  She doesn’t want to live in the woods with a Grandfather she never really knew.  We are introduced to not only her Grandfather but to Trick as well.  Now let me tell you that Trick is a hottie with secrets!  I fell in love with his words and his description.  As if one hottie wasn’t enough, we are also introduced to Justin who has secrets of his own. This creates a love triangle for Katelyn but also “unleashes” secrets that she needs to figure out.  


There was plenty of mystery and suspense to keep this book going with two hot guys to keep you interested enough to figure out which guy Katelyn would choose.  I will say for me though, by halfway through the book it seems to slow down in plot progression.  Then when you are nearing the end, it picks back up and throws you for some loops.  This could have been just my experience with it and could be completely different for you though. 


Another great series to add to your wishlist and devour in one sitting, but not one that was constant thrilling. I will continue the series to find out more. Just an okay book for me, but for you it could be magical.

SOME LIKE IT HOT
Rising Star Chef #2
Author: Louisa Edwards
Source: Donation from another blogger
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks; Original edition (November 29, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0312534396
ISBN-13: 978-0312534394

Sexy, single, and even sweeter than the treats he bakes, New York pastry chef Danny Lunden is trying to stay focused on food—not females. With the Rising Star Chef competition approaching, he doesn’t have time to get all steamed up over the gorgeous woman he encounters on the plane to Chicago. Even if she is Eva Jansen—the billionaire heiress in charge of the contest…

Danny assumes that “Eva the Diva” is a spoiled rich girl who doesn’t share his passion for food. But when the two meet up again in an elevator—alone—they share more than just passion. They share a kiss hot enough to start a kitchen fire—and they’re hungry for more. To indulge their new secret craving, Eva and Danny have to break every rule in the cookbook. But—like chocolate and caramel—some ingredients are are so sinfully good together, one scrumptious bite is never enough…

Again, take your eyes off that gorgeous cover and dive into another great installment in the Rising Star Chef series!  With this one, we get to read about Danny – the head pastry chef – and Eva whose is the one putting together the competition.


While I am a huge fan of this series, I can’t say that I enjoyed the characters as much in this book.  While Danny is definitely a great catch in more ways than one, I just couldn’t figure out why or how he could be attracted to Eva.  She was not the type of character I imagined him to be with.  While there were some hot scenes –including the scene where his hands were bandaged — the rest was just okay for me.  Eva’s character was just a spoiled girl that Danny first thought she was.  I didn’t like her work ethics and the extreme she went to when trying to get the Food Channel to pick up the competition for TV.  She was easily persuaded by the camera man — who had no reason to voice his opinions — and caved to the pressure of it all.  She was suppose to be strong and independent, but she caved too easily for me to see that spine straighten up near the end. Her character alone made this just an okay book for me.


I will however be reading the next book because I have been desperately wanting to read about Beck’s past.  We get to read a little bit about his past with a few surprises entered into the competition to appease our appetite for him now, but I need the full story now! If you are a fan of Louisa Edwards work, then continue the series and stalk the authors web page for more information of Beck!

 
Okay book, but it left me wanting more! 3 STARS

ALL ABOUT SEDUCTION
Author: Katy Madison
Source: Publisher
*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Avon (October 25, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0062017357
ISBN-13: 978-0062017352

Caroline Broadhurst is about to take a lover — at her husband’s command. For fifteen years, Caroline has done everything her much older husband has desired — except provide an heir. Now he has given her an ultimatum: seduce a suitable gentleman and bear a son. Caroline would never think of bowing to such a shameful order, but then she meets Jack Applegate.

Jack has longed for the beautiful, untouchable Caroline for years, but the chasm between them was too wide to ever dream of crossing. Now, fate and passion have thrown them together, but the potential scandal threatens to smother their love. And when a violent secret comes to light, only a terrible sacrifice will prevent the flame of their affection from being snuffed out forever. . .

This was my first book by Katy Madison.  I am still conflicted in my feelings towards this book even though I still liked it overall.  There were some good things and there were some bad things but it balanced out enough to make me want to read more by Katy Madison.


When Caroline is summoned to her husbands office one day, she never expected to hear the proposal he brought to the table.  He wants a child –which Caroline also desperately wants — but he is sterile.  After fifteen years of marriage, Caroline thought it was her unable to conceive a child.  What he proposes is for her to sleep with men of his choosing that is brought to their home and have one of them father the child.  Caroline was very young when she married her much older husband.  She has never enjoyed sex and can’t stand the act of it.  Her husband has always been rough and uncaring when it comes to lovemaking.  Even with these feelings towards sex, she still has been a proper wife and never had affairs or improper acts with anyone else. The only way she will receive any money if her husband passes away is if she provides him with an heir. 


Let me start with the things I did not like about this book so we can get them out of the way.  First her husband is way older than her — considering he is as old as a grandfather would be.  Two, what kind of husband would make you sleep with other men –strangers no less– just to provide a baby instead of adopting? Three, I hate how he made her do this, but then he got enraged when he suspects she actually did it! I understand this is a historical romance and things were done differently in those times, but the whole story was a little far fetched for me.


Now lets touch on the good things about the book for me.  I absolutely fell in head over heels for Jack.  He was sweet, patient and tender which every woman would love to have in a man.  He has always admired Caroline from afar, but since he was only a mill worker at her husbands mill, he knew he was not even close to the same class she was in.  All Jack wants in life is a woman to love, a way to further his life financially to where he can provide for a family of his own, and a chance to be happy.  When he crushes his ankle on a piece of mill equipment though, he knows his life is going to change for the worse.  No one will want a cripple working for them and he will have to give up his dreams of being an inventor in London.  He was protective of Caroline, but held back enough to know when to step in and when not to.  He always pushed her to open up to him about her problems and to let him in.  


So, everything balanced out for me in this book which left me with just a mediocre feeling about the book.  I liked the characters of Caroline and Jack, but there were characters I despised just as much.  The ending was wrapped up way too quickly and I felt it needed to stretch out further than just a few pages.  I wills till read more by the author and I can’t wait to see what other type of historical scandal she can bring to the table next, but I won’t go as far to say as it was my favorite historical romance this year.

 
Okay book, but it left me wanting more! 3 STARS

KNIGHTS & WHITE SATIN
Author: Cash Cole
Source: Personal Purchase

Paperback: 184 pages
Publisher: Ellora’s Cave (October 7, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1419961071
ISBN-13: 978-1419961076

Mike is a swinging bachelor with a big empty house and plenty of time and money to spend as he likes. But the second he sees Lee in the bar, he knows something’s about to change. He brings Lee home for some hot-tub fun-and plunges headfirst into love. And Lee is right there with him. But Lee isn’t flying solo. Years ago, he married his best friend Cate so they could please her parents, share a household and have a baby together. Their relationship is strictly platonic, and Cate is thrilled that Lee has found someone. She doesn’t want him to give up his love life to care for her, but she’s living on borrowed time due to a terminal illness. As Mike discovers passion the likes of which he never knew before Lee, he realizes he needs to step up and think of others for a change. And Lee-and his family-are about to learn what it’s like to have a real-life knight in shining armor.

I didn’t think this was going to be a great book because of the cover.  This was a lesson learned in judging a book by its cover instead of the writing on the pages.  First, the couple on the cover looks nothing like the characters described or the ones I picture in my head.  The tarot cards on the front do represent a certain part of the story, but it was a small part.  The only thing about the cover photo that really represents the book in true nature is the pose that the two men are in.  It is a pose that you will come to know throughout the entire story and has a meaning behind it.


When Mike meets Lee at a charity function, he has no idea how fast he would fall for him.  What he also has no idea about is the secrets that Lee holds as well.  Lee married his best friend Cate after college for a matter of convenience.  Together they had a son so Cate could enjoy the experience of being a mother.  Lee is gay, but he loves his son and his best friend.  Cate is also dying from breast cancer.  After the charity function, Mike and Lee share a passionate night of love.  It is interrupted though by a phone call Lee receives that Cate collapsed and is being rushed to the hospital.  When the doctors tell Lee that Cate’s cancer is back, he feels the world crumbling around him.  Mike arrives at the hospital after Lee left his phone at his house and discovers that Lee is married with a child.  He feels like Lee lied to him and calls his friend Kelly/Keith to chew him out for setting him up.  Once Mike figures out that it was a marriage in name only he returns to the hospital and tells Lee and Cate that they can move into his house.  Not only does he do this because he feels bad for Cate, but he selfishly wants Lee to be around him.


I wasn’t a really big fan of Lee and Mike.  Their emotions were all over the place and I couldn’t really feel a strong romantic connection between the two.  It felt like their relationship was sex based instead of a true romantic story because they jumped into it way too fast.  My favorite characters of the story had to be Kelly/Keith and the rest of the drag queen group.  They were hilarious and kept me laughing throughout the entire book.  Imagine you walk into a room with the following people: Two gay guys in love, one of the gay guys’ wife, a priest who happens to be gay and was involved with the other gay guy, girls uptight Catholic parents, a toddler boy who is sweet and trusting and a bunch of drag queens performing a show for everyone!  It was hilarious. Especially the scene when her parents are confronting the priest out in the hot tub and she falls in.  


While I wasn’t a big fan of the romance between Mike and Lee, the story itself was pretty good.  I laughed through the antics and witty dialogue.  I cried near the end when things were falling apart but starting anew.  I even liked the side characters that were written in the story.  Overall not a bad book to read if you are wanting to step into the romance world of male/male. 

ETERNITY
A Fallen Angel Novel
Author: Heather Terrell
Source: Personal Purchase

Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: HarperTeen (June 28, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0061965715
ISBN-13: 978-0061965715

The end . . . or a new beginning? 

As Ellie comes to grips with her destiny as the Elect One, her relationship with Michael grows tense. When she meets a mys­terious boy named Rafe, things get even more complicated. 

Yet the time has come for the Elect One to stand against the group of evil fallen angels who are bent on destroying the world. In order to face the immeasurable malevolence heading her way, Ellie tries to put her personal life aside. But she soon learns that whoever holds her heart also holds the key to mankind’s salvation—or destruction. As the end days approach, Ellie is faced with an epic decision. Who does her heart really belong to? And is her love strong enough to save the world?
 

I had a really hard time getting into this book for the simple fact that the first book in the series didn’t wow me enough to keep the story fresh and memorable.  I struggled to remember what had happened in the first book to make sense of what was going on in this one.  After a few chapters though, the puzzle started coming together better and I started to remember bits and pieces of the previous book.

The book starts out shortly after the previous one ended.  Ellie is back home and needs to keep up the pretense of not knowing everything that she discovered in the previous book.  She isn’t sure who remembers and who was forced to forget so she puts up her walls of defense and goes about her day as a normal teenage girl.  When she realizes that Michael remembers everything as well, they agree to keep it quiet so the Fallen are unable to track them.  Enlisting the help of Ellie’s best friend Ruth, they try and figure out the seven signs of the end of the world in hopes of figuring out their roles in the coming fight.

Michael has been changing lately and Ellie can’t figure out why he isn’t acting like the boy she fell in love with.  When Ellie is introduced to Rafe at a school fundraiser, she feels herself attracted to him but not in a romantic way.  Sure he is cute and caring, but she knows her heart lies with Michael.  When Rafe exposes what he really is to Ellie and Michael, they find themselves training and learning about their roles for the final fight.

The book actually moved at a faster pace than the first book in the series.  I found myself reading this book quickly and enjoying the plot of it better this time around.  I felt a better connection between Michael and Ellie as well.  The prologue gives you a great hint at what is to come in the end, but you will still be pleasantly surprised about it all.  The one thing I thought was a little far fetched was how easy it was for Michael and Ellie to defeat some of the Fallen.  If they are suppose to be twice as strong as Ellie and Michael, how were they able to take them down so fast and easy?

Overall a great conclusion to the series– at least I am assuming this is the final book.  If you haven’t read the previous book in the series though, I recommend you reading it first to avoid confusion.  This is one that is definitely not a stand alone novel.

 
Okay book, but it left me wanting more! 3 STARS