Category Archives: 3 Flames

SAVE THE DATE
Author: Jenny B. Jones
Source: BookSneeze
*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (February 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1595545395
ISBN-13: 978-1595545398

SUMMARY:


When Alex and Lucy pick out wedding invitations, they wonder if they can be printed in vanishing ink.

Former NFL star Alex Sinclair is a man who has it all–except the votes he needs to win his bid for Congress. Despite their mutual dislike, Alex makes Lucy a proposition: pose as his fiancee in return for the money she desperately needs. Bound to a man who isn’t quite what he seems, Lucy will find her heart on the line–and maybe even her life. When God asks Alex and Lucy to scrap their playbook and follow his rules, will they finally say, “I do”?

MY THOUGHTS:

I was a little concerned about reading this because it is classified as a Christian Romance. Now don’t get me wrong! I don’t have anything against Christians–I am one–but I don’t like my books to preach to me as I read a story.  Even though this book does have a lot of religious talk to it, I didn’t feel as though it was preaching to me and telling me how I should be.  It still had the feel of the contemporary romance that I was seeking.

I did feel the book to be a little predictable at times though.  It didn’t leave much for the imagination, and that made it fluffy and sweet.  Not much suspense really to keep you excited about the read, but one that keeps you interested enough to finish the book.

I liked the characters of Alex and Lucy.  Both were great to read about and I loved them together.  Not a book I would reread again, but not bad for rainy days when you need a sweet book to read.

MY RATING:

ANGEL
A Maximum Ride Novel #7
Author: James Patterson
Source: Publisher
* I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company (February 14, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 031603620X
ISBN-13: 978-0316036207

SUMMARY:

In the seventh book in the bestselling series, evil scientists are still trying to convince Max that she needs to save the world, this time by providing the genetic link in speeding up the pace of evolution. Worse, they’re trying to convince her that her perfect mate is Dylan, the newest addition to the flock. The problem is that, despite herself, Max is starting to believe it. 

Fang travels the country collecting his own gang of evolved humans, but the two separate flocks must unite to defeat a frightening doomsday cult whose motto is Save the Planet: Kill the Humans. And this time, the true heroine, for once, might just be little Angel.

MY THOUGHTS:

If you are a fan of the Maximum Ride novels by James Patterson, then I can assume you have been like me in the hopes that the release of this book would hurry and get here.  I stalked the authors web page, Goodreads, Amazon and the publishers website in anticipation of hearing anything about the release date, cover and summary for this book.  After the last book, titled Fang, I was left with tears and in a serious need of the next installment to help get me over the ending of the book..  I needed to know what would happen next.

When I received this ARC copy in the mail, I was over the moon! I couldn’t help putting it as the next book in line for me to read.  That is how much I have enjoyed this series in the past.  I finished my household chores and tucked the kids into bed.  Then I stayed up late reading this book.  Yet after the first couple of chapters, I realized my anticipation for the novel was sliding downhill.

While I enjoy all of the characters in The Maximum Ride Series, Fang and Max have always been my favorites.  I was cheering for the two of them to become a couple even if they were young.  I wanted them to have that relationship more than anything.  They had earned it and they needed some happiness.  After reading Fang, I was still hoping that the happiness would return.  Yes, we get to see Fang in this book, but not in the way we are all hoping  for.  He is still trying to gather his own flock and Max is still trying to deal with the fallout of Fang not being a part of hers.

While the story stays true to the non-stop action, with climatic short chapters as in the previous books, the plot of this one was not as well executed as it should have been.  I felt the author used this book as a “filler” book for the story.  It felt like he was rushed and needed to put this book out there to keep the fans satisfied until the final book in the series is released in 2012.  It didn’t seem that story had much progression to it to warrant it as a “next in the series” book.

Overall, I expected so much more out of this. More angst, romance, adventure and actual plot.  I wish the author could have brought us so much more to enjoy the ride of the series.  Instead I felt the author let us down with this installment.  Will I read the final book in the series that will be released in 2012? Yes. For one I want to finish the series that I have loved, but I also want to know if the author is saving the best for last!

MY RATING:

THE LADY MOST LIKELY…
Author(s): Julia Quinn, Eloisa James, Connie Brockway
Source: Publisher
*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Avon; Original edition (December 28, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0061247820
ISBN-13: 978-0061247828

SUMMARY:

Hugh Dunne, the Earl of Briarly, needs a wife—so his sister hands him a list of the very best young ladies on the market. And then, because he refuses to tear himself away from the stables where he trains Arabian racehorses, she invites all those ladies to a house party, along with some other bachelors, of course. So who will Hugh choose? The Botticelli-esque, enchanting Gwendolyn? The outspoken, delightful Katherine? If he doesn’t work fast, he’ll lose those ladies to his closest friends, and then where will he look for a wife? Perhaps, just perhaps, toward a lady who’s not on a market at all, and would require a great deal of persuading…

MY THOUGHTS:

I have said it before and I will say it again, I am very picky about historical/regency romance novels.  I want them to have a great story, but I also want it to be believable along with great writing.  When I received this book in the mail, I fell in love with the cover.  The dress, the flowers and the overall classiness of the cover was beautiful.  I also noticed right away the headlining authors that are popular in this genre. 


In anthologies, you usually have different stories by different authors compiled into one book.  What made this book different however, is the fact that this is one entire story written by three different authors.  Each part of the book is written from a different author.  When one author finishes their part, the next author picks up the story where she left off.  This gives us one big novel producing the punch of three well known authors.  


While I enjoyed the story and the writing styles of three different authors, I won’t go as far to say the story itself was a favorite.  I enjoyed it and I liked it, but it isn’t one that I would rush out to own a copy to keep on my keeper shelf.  Each author brought a unique voice to the story and it came together nicely.  It was fluffy, romantic and fun, but not one I want to reread again.  I can’t pinpoint an exact cause for my feelings on this, but I do know that if you are a big fan of not only these authors but for this genre as well, then you might have a different opinion on it than I have. 


An enjoyable and romantic read that will leave you with a feel-good satisfaction at the end, but not one I would own for future rereading.  I would say that this book is best for the hard core historical romance readers who love this genre more than me.


MY RATING:

NEVER TOO HOT
Author: Bella Andre
Source: Purchased

Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Bantam (May 25, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0440245028
ISBN-13: 978-0440245025

SUMMARY:

A TOUCH IGNITES. A FIRE BURNS. AND THE HEAT HAS JUST BEGUN.

Deep in the cool green mountains of the Adirondacks, wounded firefighter Connor MacKenzie has come to rebuild the 100-year-old MacKenzie family cabin—and to be alone. A horrific blaze has left him scarred inside and out and certain of two things: He’ll get back on his Hot Shot crew no matter what it takes, and any woman who ventures too close will not stay long.

Ginger Sinclair has been burned by a different kind of fire. Having just escaped from a bad marriage, she’s retreated to the safety of the lakeside vacation town in upstate New York to start a new life. She’s done with men, with relationships, with the danger of desires that can rage out of control—until she unexpectedly encounters Connor MacKenzie. As a hot summer on the lake grows ever hotter, they find themselves sharing a cabin and a romance that will swiftly engulf them both.

MY THOUGHTS:

First of all, let me start by saying that I am usually a big fan of this author.  Almost every book I have read by her, I have enjoyed.  With this book, I felt let down after eagerly anticipating Conner’s story. If you have read the other books in this series, you know that Conner was severely burned and scarred in the earlier books.  Now Conner is fighting through the pain of scarring and trying to get his life back in order.  He is on his last appeal to join the Hot Shot crew again, something he desperately wants more than anything.

When Conner goes out to his families cabin expecting solitude while he renovates it, he unexpectedly comes across Ginger renting the place.  His Grandparent’s failed to mention this to him, and now finds himself under the same roof as the curvy and attractive woman. 

While I enjoyed the love story that author created between Conner and Ginger, I feel that the author let us down with the suspense in this book.  It was predictable on so many points, had little action outside the bedroom, and too many side stories going on that I couldn’t fully enjoy the story of Conner and Ginger.  By the end of the book I felt a little disappointed.  I wanted so much more from Conner and Ginger, but I was too distracted by all of the other characters trying to find their happy ending as well.

Overall not a bad book, but not one of the authors best works.  This could be read as a stand alone without reading the previous books, but to get the full impact of Conner’s history and personality I would recommend reading the other books first.

MY RATING:

BLESSED
Author: Cynthia Leitich Smith
Source: Fellow Blogger

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 480 pages
Publisher: Candlewick (January 25, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0763643262
ISBN-13: 978-0763643263

SUMMARY:

With a wink and a nod to Bram Stoker, New York Times best-selling author Cynthia Leitich Smith unites the casts of Tantalize and Eternal in a delicious dark fantasy her fans will devour.
Quincie P. Morris, teen restaurateuse and neophyte vampire, is in the fight of her life — or undeath. Even as she adjusts to her new appetites, she must clear her best friend and true love, the hybrid werewolf Kieren, of murder charges; thwart the apocalyptic ambitions of Bradley Sanguini, the seductive vampire-chef who “blessed” her; and keep her dead parents’ restaurant up and running. She hires a more homespun chef and adds the preternaturally beautiful Zachary to her wait staff. But with hundreds of new vampires on the rise and Bradley off assuming the powers of Dracula Prime, Zachary soon reveals his true nature — and a flaming sword — and they hit the road to staunch the bloodshed before it’s too late. Even if they save the world, will there be time left to salvage Quincie’s soul? 

MY THOUGHTS:

With Blessed being the third and final book in a trilogy, I found it to be a great conclusion to the series.  It weaved the first and second book together to create a solid and intriguing finale.  This first two books in the series were okay, and I will say that this book again, was just okay.  I liked the series, but it wasn’t one that blew me away.

The writing has improved a bit, but the story in itself still has some choppy scenes and dialogue.  The flow felt interrupted at times as if the story was stalled and couldn’t figure out how to continue its path.  I was invested in the story only because I had read the first two in the series and needed to finish the series just on that alone.
If this is a series you have been following and have enjoyed, then you will enjoy the final conclusion in this teen paranormal world that the author has created.  If you haven’t read the first two books, then read the first and you should get a feel on how the series will be. 

MY RATING: