Category Archives: 3 Flames

THE GATHERING
Darkness Rising #1
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Source: Personal Purchase

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins (April 12, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0061797022
ISBN-13: 978-0061797026

Sixteen-year-old Maya is just an ordinary teen in an ordinary town. Sure, she doesn’t know much about her background – the only thing she really has to cling to is an odd paw-print birthmark on her hip – but she never really put much thought into who her parents were or how she ended up with her adopted parents in this tiny medical-research community on Vancouver Island.

Until now.

Strange things have been happening in this claustrophobic town – from the mountain lions that have been approaching Maya to her best friend’s hidden talent for “feeling” out people and situations, to the sexy new bad boy who makes Maya feel . . . . different. Combine that with a few unexplained deaths and a mystery involving Maya’s biological parents and it’s easy to suspect that this town might have more than its share of skeletons in its closet. 

Having never read any of Kelley Armstrong’s other books,  I wasn’t sure what to expect.  I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the author can come up with some fun and captivating characters!


I loved how Maya interacted with her adoptive family.  The dialogue between Maya and her Father were hilarious at times.  What teen wouldn’t like a Father that they could joke around with and at times, be able to leave their Father speechless.  While she wasn’t as witty with her Mother,  I still enjoyed how this family interacted.  


Of course, there always has to be some sort of romance.  I fell in love with Daniel.  I was hoping that Maya and Daniel would become a couple.  As I read more into the story though, I really enjoyed the friendship better than if they were a couple.  Then we get to meet Rafe.  *swoon*  The “bad boy rebel” in school who is a player with the girls.  Of course he has good looks to back it up and secrets to keep him mysterious.  I liked the slow build up between Rafe and Maya.  It didn’t feel rushed or forced.  I liked the tender and loving relationship Rafe had with his sister Annie as well.  I wish we could have seen Annie interact more with Maya though. 


The only problem I had with this book is the ending.  I know it is part of a trilogy, but nothing was answered really.  I didn’t like the spot the book finished in either.  It needed more, but I guess that is Ms. Armstrong’s way of teasing us for the next book.  Hopefully some things can be resolved early in the second book to help give us closure for the first book.


Will I continue with the trilogy? YES!  If anything, I need to learn more about Skin Walkers and the characters of the small town in Vancouver Island.

DRIFTWOOD COTTAGE
Author: Sherryl Woods
Source: Planned Television Arts
*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Mira; 400 edition (March 29, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 077832947X
ISBN-13: 978-0778329473

Single mom Heather Donovan’s dreams of home and family are tantalizingly within reach when she settles in Chesapeake Shores. The welcoming arms of the boisterous, loving O’Brien clan embrace her and her son. But accepting their support seems to further alienate her son’s father, Connor O’Brien. His parents’ divorce and his career as a high-powered divorce attorney have left him jaded about marriage.

Then everything changes. Will the possibility of a future without Heather make Connor look at love and his career differently? Heather’s just about given up on her old dreams—of love, of family and especially of Driftwood Cottage, the home she secretly wishes were hers. It’s going to take a lot of persuasion—and some help from the O’Brien family—to make Heather believe that some dreams are worth fighting for.

It has been a long time since I have read a book by Sherryl Woods.  I remember that she was one of the first authors I started to read in the romance genre back when I was a teen.  I remember how this author can create such vivid backdrops for the characters to dwell in.  With this new book,  I remembered all the reasons why I loved her writing.

While I love the characters and the attention to details,  I was a little disappointed at all of the family that was involved in the story.  At times, I wanted them to fade into the background so the focus would solely on the main characters. Some of the story drags at times, but once it picks up it does get fun and interesting.  While the storyline is predictable, I still enjoyed reading about Heather and Conner.

While it isn’t my favorite book by this author, it wasn’t a bad book.  It was mediocre in story, but full of family and romance fluff.  A great book to pass the time with, but not one I would reread again unless I need a refresher in the series.

MY RATING:

JUST LIKE HEAVEN
Author: Julia Quinn
Source: Publisher
*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Avon; Original edition (May 31, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 006149190X
ISBN-13: 978-0061491900

SUMMARY:


Honoria Smythe-Smith is: 

A) a really bad violinist 
B) still miffed at being nicknamed “Bug” as a child 
C) not in love with her older brother’s best friend 
D) all of the above 

Marcus Holroyd is: 

A) the Earl of Chatteris
B) regrettably prone to sprained ankles
C) not in love with his best friend’s younger sister 
D) all of the above 

Together they: 

A) eat quite a bit of chocolate cake
B) survive a deadly fever and the world’s worst musical performance
C) fall quite desperately in love

It’s Julia Quinn at her best, so you know the answer is . . .

D) all of the above

MY THOUGHTS:

Not only do I love this author, but I fell in love with this cover at first glance!  It is so romantic and the blue/cream/red color combination was gorgeous! 

The author is back with her usual witty and graceful writing that I have come to love!  Each character in the book came to life in my mind and each one had a special reason for being in my heart as I read it.  Honoria  was a great character that I loved reading about. Marcus was charming and I found him to be swoon worthy in this book.  While I enjoyed the story and the characters very much, I was a little disappointed in the lack of WOW factor in the book.  It was a fun and easy read, but their wasn’t much climatic points to surprise the reader.  It went at a leisurely pace and filled the void between other reads.

While it wasn’t my favorite book by this author, it was one that left me remembering the characters and their personalities.  If you are a fan of the author then you need to add this one to your reading line-up.

MY RATING:

TEN THINGS WE DID
(and probably shouldn’t have)
Author: Sarah Mlynowski
Source: Amazon Vine
*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: HarperTeen (June 7, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0061701246
ISBN-13: 978-0061701245

SUMMARY:

2 girls + 3 guys + 1 house – parents = 10 things April and her friends did that they (definitely, maybe, probably) shouldn’t have. 

If given the opportunity, what sixteen-year-old wouldn’t jump at the chance to move in with a friend and live parent-free? Although maybe “opportunity” isn’t the right word, since April had to tell her dad a tiny little untruth to make it happen (see #1: “Lied to Our Parents”). But she and her housemate Vi are totally responsible and able to take care of themselves. How they ended up “Skipping School” (#3), “Throwing a Crazy Party” (#8), “Buying a Hot Tub” (#4), and, um, “Harboring a Fugitive” (#7) at all is kind of a mystery to them. 

In this hilarious and bittersweet tale, Sarah Mlynowski mines the heart and mind of a girl on her own for the first time. To get through the year, April will have to juggle a love triangle, learn to do her own laundry, and accept that her carefully constructed world just might be falling apart . . . one thing-she-shouldn’t-have-done at a time.

MY THOUGHTS:

I was really looking forward to reading this book.  I wanted the teen angst and all the drama when you involve boys, girls, high school and no parents!  I had seen this book all over the blogging community, so I was excited for the chance to review it.  As soon as it arrived, I dove into it!

April’s Dad and Stepmother announce that they are moving to Cleveland.  April has no desire to leave her school, her friends, or her boyfriend Noah.  When April and Vi come up with a plan to convince their parents to let April live with Vi and her Mom, they put the plan in motion.  When April’s Dad agrees to her moving in with Vi for the last half of the school year, April is worried about lying to her Father, but she is also excited to be on her own!  Vi’s Mother is on tour for her acting job, without April’s Dad knowing, so April and Vi are basically left unsupervised with no adults.  What started out as a fun and crazy plan, ends up not going the way they had planned. Things go awry and have consequences, all things that began with one thing leading into another that never would have happened with supervision.

I am on the fence with my feelings on this book.  While I loved the plot, the characters and the teen angst, I wasn’t a fan of the constant flashbacks and flash forwards the chapters did.  On one page you will be reading present story, then you turn the page and it is 10 minutes earlier.  Then after that flashback, we flash forward to present and back again all within a matter of pages.  It got to be a little confusing at times and not to mention a little annoying.  I would have enjoyed this so much more if there would have been less time warping and more present day action. 

The book wasn’t a bad book, but I think with a little more tweaking of the timelines, it could be so much better.  With just a few of the scenes worked differently and adjusted through out the book, it could be a real hit in the teen genre. 

MY RATING:

TYGER TYGER
Goblin Wars #1
Author: Kersten Hamilton
Source: Contest Win

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Clarion Books; 1 edition (November 15, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0547330081
ISBN-13: 978-0547330082

SUMMARY:

Teagan Wylltson’s best friend, Abby, dreams that horrifying creatures–goblins, shape-shifters, and beings of unearthly beauty but terrible cruelty–are hunting Teagan. Abby is always coming up with crazy stuff, though, so Teagan isn’t worried. Her life isn’t in danger. In fact, it’s perfect. She’s on track for a college scholarship. She has a great job. She’s focused on school, work, and her future. No boys, no heartaches, no problems.

Until Finn Mac Cumhaill arrives. Finn’s a bit on the unearthly beautiful side himself. He has a killer accent and a knee-weakening smile. And either he’s crazy or he’s been haunting Abby’s dreams, because he’s talking about goblins, too . . . and about being The Mac Cumhaill, born to fight all goblin-kind. Finn knows a thing or two about fighting. Which is a very good thing, because this time, Abby’s right. The goblins are coming.

MY THOUGHTS:

There was so much hype surrounding this book when it released.  I was wary of reading it because after all of the amazing things I had heard, I did not want to be disappointed in it.  When I started reading the book though, I quickly fell in love with the characters and the way the author created this world of goblins and other supernatural creatures.


While I was not a big fan of book as a whole,  there were parts of the book that I did enjoy.  I enjoyed the witty dialogue and the character of Teagan.  She felt real and I loved her friendship with Abby. Plus, what is better than a sexy guy like Finn and his amazing accent.  He was the bad boy that every girl bats their eyelashes at.  I loved the family too!  They were written wonderfully and complimented each other nicely.  Each one had their own personality and I fell in love with Teagan’s younger brother, Aiden.


After Finn arrives to live with the family though, it seemed like the book got off track.  I liked the history and the idea the author had, but when she put it into words to finish the book it felt out of sync.  I can’t quite put my finger on where it actually started to fall apart, but it just seemed to lose my interest and that spark that it had at the beginning.  


If you are a fan of the fantasy genre, and you like reading about it in the young adult setting, then give Tyger Tyger a chance.  You still might like it and you might actually enjoy it better than I did.


MY RATING: