Category Archives: 4 Flames

Independent single mother Tamara Briggs wanted to find a new, sexy, no-strings-attached man-just not one as young as NASCAR driver Elec Monroe. But he sure does get her heart racing. And after she’s tricked into a blind date with him, Tamara gives in to her passion. Things screech to a halt, though, when he asks to meet her children. Whatever happened to wham-bam-thank-you ma’am? Suddenly Tamara has to decide how much risk she’s willing to take to experience the power of true love.

I finally caved and started the adventure of reading about race car drivers.  I will admit that I agree with comedian Jeff Dunham in mystery of Nascar enthusiasts. I don’t see the appeal sitting on the couch watching cars drive 100 plus miles on a circle track making constant left turns. “Look! He’s doing another left turn!” After reading Flat-Out Sexy though, I can certainly see the appeal of the drivers themselves.  Hot dang this book was hot!

When widowed Tamara Briggs accidentally bumps into Elec Monroe at a party, she finds the handsome race car driver to be polite and sexy.  At first she gets the impression that he is just part of a pit crew and not a Rookie driver.  When she breaks it off with a man she has been dating — that is definitely not working out — she decides to leave the party early.  Unfortunately she has misplaced her purse and has nowhere to go.  Her  friend Ryder tells her she can stay in his Coach over night and Elec can see her home safely.  What happens after the drive is anything but boring.  They end up sleeping together and find themselves enjoying each others company.

I found the story to be sweet, romantic and sexy all at the same time.  I could see the how Tamara was a little worried about having a fling with Elec.  She has kids to think about, she lost her husband to a horrible crash on the track, and her former in-laws — that are still apart of the picture — have a grudge against the Monroe family.  She also worries about the age difference with her being older than him and has insecurities with her ‘motherly’ body.  I love how Elec treated Tamara.

The only problem I had with the story was when I thought the author was going to take the reader on that familiar path of the in-laws accusing Tamara of being a bad mother and going for custody.  I was so happy that the author quickly changed that path.  That might have ruined the story for me.  I did feel that the ending was a little rushed, but overall it didn’t change my feelings too much on the book.

A great new series for me to continue reading and I can’t wait to read about the other characters in the future!

Very Good! I would recommend this book!

Shade
Shade #1
Author: Jeri Smith-Ready
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal
Source: Library Loan
Publisher: Simon Pulse
 (May 4, 2010)
ISBN-13: 978-1416994060

Best. Birthday. Ever. At least, it was supposed to be. With Logan’s band playing a critical gig and Aura’s plans for an intimate after-party, Aura knows it will be the most memorable night of her boyfriend’s life. She never thought it would be his last.


Logan’s sudden death leaves Aura devastated. He’s gone.


Well, sort of.


Like everyone born after the Shift, Aura can see and hear ghosts. This mysterious ability has always been annoying, and Aura had wanted nothing more than to figure out why the Shift happened so she can undo it. But not with Logan’s violet-hued spirit still hanging around. Because dead Logan is almost as real as ever. Almost.


It doesn’t help that Aura’s new friend Zachary is so understanding–and so very alive. His support means more to Aura than she cares to admit.


As Aura’s relationships with the dead and the living grow ever complicated, so do her feelings for Logan and Zachary. Each holds a piece of Aura’s heart…and clues to the secret of the Shift.

Where do I even begin with this review?  It is so hard to put my feelings into words and that is how you know you have found a book that blows you away.  When this book first came out, I was not as excited as everyone else.  For some reason or another, I kept putting it off and it got buried on my list of books to read.  Now that book three has finally arrived — and the hype for the series is once again high — I finally caved and decided to give the series a chance. Again, I am having trouble getting my thoughts together for this review, so please be patient in reading this one.

When I first started reading Shade, I wasn’t a huge fan of Aura.  I am still on the fence about her character.  She can’t make a decision and keep it which really aggravated me.  Here she has this great boyfriend — who yes, at times likes to be in the spotlight — and she is trying to decide if she should stay with him because of her doubts.  Yet, once he hits it big one night with his band, she decides she wants to be with him. She decides that they should finally give their relationship another chance at taking it to the next level.  The only problem is Logan parties a little too hard that night and gets drunk.  He has a problem with “performing” intimately and decides to take some drugs he was give by some talent scouts to wake him up.  He ends up dying from the lethal combination of alcohol and drugs.  Since this happens after the world has discovered ghosts, some people can see him and Aura is one of them.  She is considered a post-shift meaning she was born after The Shift happened.  If you are post-shift you see ghosts in violet.  If your are pre-shift — born before The Shift — you are unable to see ghosts at all.

This was a part that was confusing to me with all of the references to the pre-shift and post-shift with the characters.  I had to keep remembering who was born before and after the Shift event.  Eventually it finally clicked in place for me, but it was a little overwhelming at first for me.  Aura now has to deal with seeing Logan as a ghost and not being able to touch him.  It is hard enough dealing with the death of a loved one, but Aura has to also mourn the loss of a ‘true’ relationship with him.  While others in the book deal with the death of Logan and not being able to communicate with him, others are dealing with seeing him around still and realizing that Logan will never truly be the same guy he was in life.  Ghosts also can turn into Shades or ghosts who are dark and miserable.  There is a paranormal group who captures ghost if they show signs of going Shade and they are determined to catch Logan when he starts to show signs of it.

Enter Zachary. Holy goodness I am in love with this Scottish guy!  Not only did the author write him beautifully, but she also made sure to write in his Scottish accent.  Every time his character spoke in the book, I melted.  Of course this causes a triangle of sorts for Aura.  She is now having to work with Zachary on a school assignment and split her time between him and Logan.  She also starts to fall for Zachary and deals with guilt in doing so because of Logan being around still.  Zachary has secrets of his own that involve Aura.  Together they are trying to figure out what happened during The Shift and what it all means.

I will say that this book left me with a lot of unanswered questions.  This was a book which is better described as the set-up book with some bare bones structured throughout.  Not many things get answered, but what you do read sets up the series and gets you so invested in the plot and characters that you find it impossible not to follow up with the other books.  I am hooked. I am torn between Logan and Zach. I am intrigued and curious to know more of the world created. I am a new fan of the author — even if she did leave us with a climatic ending that had me pulling my hair out in frustration.

Very Good! I would recommend this book!

His Dark Embrace
Author: Amanda Ashley
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Source: Author Submission
Publisher: Kensington
 (June 5, 2012)
ISBN-13: 978-1420121339

A VAMPIRE’S KISS. A WOMAN’S SURRENDER.


Tall, dark, mysterious—and with a faint scar on his cheek that only makes him more gorgeous—Kaiden Thorne is one schoolgirl obsession Skylynn never forgot. Now, returning to her childhood home after eight years, she can’t believe her reclusive neighbor is still living across the street—and hotter than ever. Skylynn doesn’t know how Kaiden manages to stay so young, virile, and impossibly attractive. But she knows she wants him…even if he harbors a fearful secret he refuses to tell her.


When Kaiden sees the beautiful young woman Skylynn has become, he can no longer control the bloodlust that is his true nature. Once he pulls Skylynn into his arms, presses his lips against hers—and accidentally draws blood—he longs for more. Only she possesses what he wants and what he needs. Only she can save him or destroy him. But once Skylynn agrees to help Kaiden battle his darkest desires, there is no turning back…

Oh Ms. Ashley, how you love to tease me and indulge my vampire fantasy!  I am a sucker (no pun intended) for a vampire romance. What truly makes a vampire romance stand out for me though is how they were written before the vampires became sparkly and soft.  I love them bad, tough, secretive and edgy.  Author Amanda Ashley has never let me down with making a vampire romance a true dark and beautiful read.

Skylynn has watched and admired Kaiden from across the street from a young age up until adulthood.  She remembers having a teenage crush on him even with his unusual quirks.  So what if he only mowed his lawn at night. So he never quite aged as much as other people.  As a teen she looked over those mysterious and crushed anonymously on him.  Kaiden was her Grandfather’s friend.  When Kaiden would come over and join her Grandfather in his lab, she never knew what happened behind closed doors.  She would hear bits and pieces of conversation, but never got the whole story.  Her brother also had questions, but never ventured in asking them.

Now she is an adult, her brother is missing, and her Grandfather has just passed away.  Skylynn is forced to return to her childhood home and begin settling her Grandfathers estate.  Should she keep the house or sell it? What should she do with all of his medical journals and supplies? Shortly after returning,  Skylynn is surprised to see Kaiden return to his home as well across the street.  Even more surprising is the fact that he still looks as gorgeous and youthful as he did so many years ago.  It seems that Skylynn’s Grandfather had been making a medicine of sorts for Kaiden and he is running out of the last batch.  He is hoping that Skylynn will help him out and look around her Grandfather’s lab for the formula.  Unfortunately, Kaiden is not the only person wanting the formula. Another person is wanting it and willing to do whatever it takes to find it — including hurting Kaiden by going after Skylynn.

I really enjoyed the sweet romance between Kaiden and Skylynn.  They have known each other for years, but never acted on their feelings.  At first I was a little timid watching the two start a romance for the simple fact that Kaiden watch Skylynn grow up from a child.  True, he didn’t have sexual feelings for her when she was young, but that doesn’t seem to make me ignore the fact that it seemed wrong.  Once I moved past that though, I enjoyed reading about their romantic progression and the hopes in finding the formula. When the formula is revealed at the end of the book — which is easy to figure out once you think about it — you will be laughing along with the characters at the creative way Skylynn’s Grandfather had hid it.

If you are looking for a darker and less sparkly vampire romance, then I urge you to give author Amanda Ashley a try.  Not only does she do them well, but she has many to choose from for days of reading enjoyment.

Very Good! I would recommend this book!

Immortal Danger
Night Watch #0.5
Author: Cynthia Eden
Source: Personal Purchase
Genre: Adult Paranormal
Publisher: Brava;
  Original edition (March 31, 2009)
ISBN-13: 978-0758226068

SUMMARY:

Being Bullet Proof Sucks—Literally

Once, Maya Black was a kick-ass cop patrolling the streets of L.A. She still keeps the city safe, but nowadays her bad guys of choice include demons, werewolves, and assorted nocturnal scum. Something Maya knows a thing or two about. She’s a vampire—and not thrilled about it. Payback meet bitch.


Adam Brody hopes Maya is as dangerous as they say she is. He needs her to help rescue his niece Cammie from a ruthless band of vamps, and he’s willing to pay—in blood. Trusting her is another matter. Adam has never met a vampire who doesn’t lie. Then again, he’s never met anyone like Maya, who fills him with a desperate need that ignites into explosive, no-holds-barred encounters…

How to write this review is the question.  I have heard so many wonderful things about author Cynthia Eden so I purchased this series awhile back.  I heard the books were amazing and had kick ass hero’s.  So naturally my ears perked up, my finger started clicking on the ‘buy now’ option and I was the new owner of a new to me series.  I finally got to start reading the paranormal world that Ms. Eden created and couldn’t wait to meet the characters.

This book fell into the category of love/hate.  I loved the alpha hero of Adam Brody.  He was sex on a stick and had the heat to keep the pages on fire.  I hated the character of Maya Black though.  Yes she was a tough as nails heroine, but there was just something about her that I didn’t like.  Maybe it was the fact that she thought she could handle anything and didn’t want to really be on equal footing with Adam.  I felt that she  thought she was better than him and it just rubbed me the wrong way.  I did however, love the way the author created the paranormal characters.  They were your typical vampires, shifters, dragons, and other creatures of the night.  They were bad — with some having just enough good in them to make them the better guys — and some could even put fear into the reader with ruthlessness.

There was plenty of action that balanced well with the sexy time as well.  It wasn’t overdone in the romance, the action flowed at a great pace, and the characters were well described and not overly narrative. The author has a wonderful knack for her writing and it shows just how well she can write within the pages of the story.

While it is not a favorite book of mine,  I am curious to read more in this series.  I want to read more about the Others and the world they live in within the authors mind.  A new series for me to keep an eye on and to hopefully become a new series I can claim as a favorite.

Very Good! I would recommend this book!

My Life Next Door
Author: Huntley Fitzpatrick
Source: ATWTGenre: Young Adult
Publisher: Dial
 (June 14, 2012)
ISBN-13: 978-0803736993

SUMMARY:

“One thing my mother never knew, and would disapprove of most of all, was that I watched the Garretts. All the time.”


The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, numerous, messy, affectionate. And every day from her balcony perch, seventeen-year-old Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs her terrace and changes everything. As the two fall fiercely in love, Jase’s family makes Samantha one of their own. Then in an instant, the bottom drops out of her world and she is suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself?


A dreamy summer read, full of characters who stay with you long after the story is over.

Talk about a book blowing you away without any warning!  I absolutely loved this book!  I admit, the story did start off a little slow and I was hesitant for the first few chapters.  Once you get past those first few though, the book takes off and doesn’t let go.

I so wish I had a family like the Garrets’ living next door to me when I was a teenager.  They were so full of love, fun and all around wholesome goodness that you couldn’t help but fall in love with each one of them.  Samantha was even a wonderful character since she didn’t fit the bill of spoiled rich girl that she could have been made out to be.  I loved how she worked like a normal teen and didn’t let her family money make her too good for Jase.

The romance between Sarah and Jase started off as a friendship that quickly grew into a sweet love story.  I love the pace the author took with it.  The teen romance was not rushed, but grew into a beautiful relationship that is hard to find in young adult books lately.  Jase is the perfect example of how a young man should be with his behavior, courtesy, feelings and actions.  The side characters were fun and surprising as well.  You will find yourself cheering and loving the underdogs and being thrown down a different path with the initial favorites.  I will say that I think the author handled the character of Tim.  Tim had many problems that made you want to loathe him, but I ended up falling hard for him as well.

When an unexpected and tragic event happens though, Samantha and Jase find themselves facing real problems in their relationship.  They will have to decide if the truth is best, or if they need to separate and take a different road.  I do wish the author though would have given the readers just a little bit more about the fallout and how things were handled once the decisions are made.

I cried, laughed and read late into the evening just to read about Jase and Samantha.  I wanted more and hated seeing the last page.  This is the type of book that makes you want to turn right back around and read it again just so you can have more of the characters and their life on the pages.  A stunning and beautifully written young adult book that will even be a favorite among the adults.

Very Good! I would recommend this book!