Category Archives: 4 Flames

Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children
Author: Ransom Riggs
Source: Gifted
Genre: Fiction/Young Adult
Publisher: Quirk Books
 (June 7, 2011)
ISBN-13: 978-1594744761

A mysterious island.


An abandoned orphanage.


A strange collection of very curious photographs.


It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive.


A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows.

Very Good! I would recommend this book!

Thank you to SK for the review!

Undeniably Yours
Kowalski Family #2
Author: Shannon Stacey
Source: Personal Purchase
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance
Publisher: HQN Books
 (January 24, 2012)
ISBN-13: 978-0373776856

One-night stand + two percent condom failure rate = happily ever after?


Bar owner Kevin Kowalski is used to women throwing their phone numbers at him, but lately he’s more interested in finding a woman to settle down with. A woman like Beth Hansen. If only their first meeting hadn’t gone so badly…


Beth’s tending bar at a wedding when she comes face-to-face with a tuxedo-clad man she never thought she’d see again. She tries to keep her distance from Kevin but, by last call, she can’t say no to his too-blue eyes or the invitation back to his room. Then she slips out before breakfast without leaving a note and, despite their precautions, pregnant.


Kevin quickly warms to the idea of being a dad and to seeing where things go with Beth. After all, he’s not the player she thinks he is. But she’s not ready for a relationship and, given his reputation, it’s going to take a lot to convince her to go on a second date with the father of her child…

In the second book in the Kowalski Family series, we get to read about Kevin and his journey to finding his happily ever after.  I admit that after reading the first book, I was so excited to read that Kevin’s book was next!  I loved him in the first book and I secretly pined for him up until the end.  He was sexy, fun and a kid at heart.  What more could you ask for in a man?

After a one night escapade between Beth and Kevin after Joe’s wedding, the two part ways after a misunderstanding.  They both keep thinking of the other though and when Beth finds out that the result of their one night is a pregnancy, she finds herself walking into Kevin’s bar to break the news.  Kevin handles the news really well and even strikes up a bargain with Beth.  She can move into the apartment across the hall from him that way he can help her out when she needs it.  He also wants to help with the bills of the pregnancy and finds himself enjoying the soon to be fatherhood status.

Beth wants to keep their relationship as just friends who happen to be having a baby together.  While she denies the attraction between each other, the reader can definitely feel the chemistry between the two.  I did get a little frustrated with Beth because of this because Kevin was trying so hard to convince her that he loved her and the baby.  Beth kept trying to tell him how he felt but never really would accept his true feelings.

The book follows the pregnancy all the way until the end.  Kevin is a great father and really wants to be there for the both of them.  Beth is stubborn and keeps him at arms length up until the last chapter.  The epilogue was sweet and gives the happily ever after the reader expects.  I think this book surpassed the last one in the series, even with Beth getting on my nerves through several scenes and chapters. A great book that leaves the reader with a feel good feeling and craving more Kowalski family drama!

Very Good! I would recommend this book!

Exclusively Yours
Kowalski Family #1
Author: Shannon Stacey
Source: Personal Purchase
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: HQN Books
 (December 20, 2011)
ISBN-13: 978-0373776788

When Keri Daniels’ editor finds out she has previous carnal knowledge of reclusive bestselling author Joe Kowalski, she gives Keri a choice: get an interview or get a new job. 


Joe’s never forgotten the first girl to break his heart, so he’s intrigued to hear Keri’s back in town–and looking for him. Despite his intense need for privacy, he’ll grant Keri an interview if it means a chance to finish what they started in high school. 


He proposes an outrageous plan–for every day she survives with his family on their annual camping and four-wheeling trip, Keri can ask one question. Keri agrees; she’s worked too hard to walk away from her career. 


But the chemistry between them is still as potent as the bug spray, Joe’s sister is out to avenge his broken heart and Keri hasn’t ridden an ATV since she was ten. Who knew a little blackmail, a whole lot of family and some sizzling romantic interludes could make Keri reconsider the old dream of Keri & Joe 2gether 4ever.

I have never read a book by author Shannon Stacey before but when I saw these on the shelves at the store, something about them made me want to buy them and dive into the romance. The back blurb sounded like it would be a fun read that would leave me with a feel good feeling by the last page.  So I came home and dove into the Kowalski family with nothing but hopes of sweet romance.  What I didn’t expect was so much fun, humor and overall enjoyment I would have when reading it!

I will say first off that I was not a huge fan of Keri.  I thought the reason she left in the first place was weak and she came across as a high maintenance snob.  She had to have her facials, spa treatments, and perfectly manicured nails to go along with shopping sprees to make her feel better.  At first I thought maybe her boss would be a great friend of hers, but that wasn’t the case by the end of the book.

Joe was a great character and I not only loved him in this book, but all of the other characters as well.  He was patient and lovable to the point of perfection at times.  While I don’t think the cover image does him justice, his personality is what stood out to me in the story.  He obviously is still caring around feelings for Keri and loves pushing her to the limit with the teasing, but he also doesn’t want to get hurt again.  When Keri left him after high school graduation, he went down a rocky path and is now a recovering alcoholic. He has made his life as a famous author but keeping his feet planted firmly on the ground while being surrounded by a family he loves.

When Keri comes looking for an exclusive interview with Joe for the company she is working for, she hopes it will give her career the push it needs to promotion.  He agrees to give her an interview but only on his terms which include attending the Kowalski Family Camping Trip.

I fell in love with this family and just couldn’t wait to read more about them.  I have already ran out and purchased the remaining books in the series that are out right now.  The side stories made it even more enjoyable and kept the reader hooked for following books.  Seriously, the only thing not giving this book a 5 star rating is the fact that Keri was not my favorite character. A sweet and fun romance that had me laughing — and at times crying — in every chapter.

Keri snorted. ” Dad only chased him to the end of the block.  Even a ’78 Granada could outrun a middle-age fat guy with a five iron.”
” I fail to see the humor in this.”
“You didn’t see my old man chasing taillights down the middle of the street in his bathrobe.  It wasn’t very funny at the time, though.”
—Keri and Tina, page 12

“Okay, it’s like this…”
“Ha!  It may have been a long time, but I’ve heard that before.  Fairy tales start with once upon a time and Kowalski tales start with okay, it’s like this.”
—Joe and Keri, page 197

Very Good! I would recommend this book!

Stranger
Author: Megan Hart
Source: Personal Purchase
Genre: Adult Erotic Romance
Publisher: Spice
 (January 1, 2009)
ISBN-13: 978-0373605279

I pay strangers to sleep with me. I have my reasons… 


But they’re not the ones you expect. For starters, I’m a funeral director taking over my dad’s business. Not exactly the sort of person you’d expect to fork over cash for the lust and urgency only live, skin-to-skin contact can create. Looking at me, you wouldn’t have a clue I carry this little secret so close it creases up like the folds of a fan. Tight. Personal. Ready to unravel in the heat of the moment. 


Unsurprisingly, my line of work brings me face to face with loss. So I decided long ago that paying for sex would be one of the best (and arousing) ways to save myself from the one thing that would eventually cut far too deep. 


But Sam was a mistake. Literally. I signed on to “pick up” a stranger at a bar, but took Sam home instead. And now that I’ve felt his heat, his sweat and everything else can I really go back to impersonal? 
Let’s just hope he never finds out about my other life…

After reading Dirty by author Megan Hart, I was craving another gritty and dark erotica from her.  This author has a way of digging deep into a flawed character and bringing out a story of survival, sex, and romance.  Stranger fits perfectly into those categories mentioned, and keeps the reader craving even more.

Grace works in funeral home that has been in the family for years.  After her Father goes into retirement, she is the only family member willing to take on the task of running the funeral home.  Obviously, working in a funeral home is bad on the mind.  She doesn’t like having to experience the emotions that go along with her business.  So instead of dealing with loss and such, she focus’ her emotions into having sex with strangers.  Grace feels that if she has sex with strangers, emotional attachment won’t be a problem and she won’t have to face the death of a partner later in life.  She is detached and doesn’t want to feel the loss of losing someone she loves.  So far this has always worked, but then she meets Sam at a bar.  She hooks up with him thinking he is one of the ‘strangers’ she pays for sex.  Of course, Sam isn’t that person and has no clue that Grace lives this lifestyle.  After parting ways, Grace thinks that is the last time she will see Sam.

While I did enjoy the plot and story, I wasn’t a huge fan of Grace.  I just couldn’t connect with her like I did with the other characters.  I really did enjoy how the author brought back previous characters from Dirty, and enjoyed how they connected into the story line with Grace and Sam.  I did feel that Grace’s Father was a little too nosy for his own good and needed to step back a few times.  He really needed to let Grace handle things herself and realize that she is a grown woman.  Sam was enjoyable but not present enough in the book to be fully captivating.  When he did appear on the pages, he stole the scene every time for me.  I just wish he would have been around a little more than what the author offered.

While I didn’t think this book was as great as Dirty, I did find myself devouring it just as fast.  I needed to know how the book was going to play out and what would happen between Sam and Grace.

Very Good! I would recommend this book!

Hunted
Author: Cheryl Rainfield
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: WestSide Books
 (December 15, 2011)
ISBN-13: 978-1934813621

Caitlyn is a telepath in a world where having any Paranormal power is illegal. Caitlyn is on the run from government troopers, who can enslave, torture, or even kill her, or make her hunt other Paranormals. When Caitlyn settles down in a city, she falls for Alex, a Normal (someone without Paranormal powers), which is dangerous because he can turn her in. And she discovers renegade Paranormals who want to destroy all Normals. Caitlyn must decide whether she’s going to stay in hiding to protect herself, or take a stand to save the world.

After reading the synopsis on this book,  I was intrigued by the fresh take in the supernatural.  It was different than what is out on shelves at the moment, and gives the reader a chance to step back from the norm of paranormal involving vampires and such.

Caitlyn  and her mother are Paras.  Any type of paranormal power is illegal and comes with dire consequences if discovered.  Para Troopers hunt them and get rid of anyone with any sort of paranormal powers.  Caitlyn has already lost her Dad to the Para Troopers and her brother was taken as well.  The only difference is that her brother wasn’t killed like they thought he was.

This book did have some plot points that could be touchy to some people, but having an open mind reading this book makes it so much better.  Things included are interracial relationships, lesbian relationships (not graphic), and touches also on the subject of prejudice in what people are or could be.  The author did wonderful though in telling this story with a supernatural twist.  Yes, some of the plot and story was predictable, but it did not deter from the point the author was trying to make with the book.

If you want to step out of the normal in young adult paranormal, then give this book a chance.  You might be surprised on how much you would enjoy it as well.

Very Good! I would recommend this book!

*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*