Category Archives: 4 Flames

The Statistical Probability of Love At First Sight
Author: Jennifer E. Smith
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Poppy
 (January 2, 2012)
ISBN-13: 978-0316122382

Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?


Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan’s life. She’s stuck at JFK, late to her father’s second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon to be step-mother that Hadley’s never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport’s cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he’s British, and he’s in seat 18C. Hadley’s in 18A. 


Twists of fate and quirks of timing play out in this thoughtful novel about family connections, second chances and first loves. Set over a 24-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver’s story will make you believe that true love finds you when you’re least expecting it.

There has been a lot of buzz about this book around the blogs.  When the publisher sent me this book for review, I was looking forward to sitting down and starting a contemporary romance in the young adult genre.  There isn’t any paranormal creatures to read about in this book.  What you do read about is a pair of young adults meeting for the first time on a plane and their relationship progressing over a 24 hour period.

What made this book so enjoyable to me was the fact that even though the two spend only 24 hours together at first, the love that starts to bud between them felt like it progressed at a natural and believable speed.  It didn’t feel rushed and their dialogue was written perfectly.  Even when we get flashbacks and glimpses of their lives between their present day dialogue, you feel the satisfaction in knowing that the author has created a connection to each character.

I loved the ending of this book and it fit the story perfectly.  I was pleasantly surprised by the writing and the characters in this book so much that I can’t wait to read more by this author.  If you are looking for a contemporary and sweet young adult read, then be sure to check out this book by Jennifer E. Smith!

Very Good! I would recommend this book!

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

Awkard
Author: Marni Bates
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: K-Teen
ISBN-13: 978-0758269379

Mackenzie Wellesley has spent her life avoiding the spotlight. At Smith High, she’s the awkward junior people only notice when they need help with homework. Until she sends a burly football player flying with her massive backpack and makes a disastrous – not to mention unwelcome – attempt at CPR. Before the day is out, the whole fiasco explodes on YouTube. And then the strangest thing happens. Suddenly, Mackenzie is an Internet sensation, with four million hits and counting. Sucked into a whirlwind of rock stars, paparazzi, and free designer clothes, she even catches the eye of the most popular guy at school. And that’s when life gets really interesting…

I didn’t have high expectations for this book when I first received it.  To me the cover was a little cheesy and childish.  Yet after you start reading this book, you find yourself sucked into the teen drama and at times find yourself laughing out loud at the scenario that is unfolding on the pages.

Mackenzie has always considered herself an invisible among her high school population.  She isn’t a part of the Notables who happen to be the rich and popular kids.  Then everything changes once something is posted to YouTube and shared among the class.  All of a sudden she is popular in her own way with reporters knocking on her door for interviews, people are starting to talk to her, and talk shows are even trying to get her to make an appearance on their shows.

The author does a wonderful job of portraying the characters in the book as true teenagers.  They have the witty dialogue that teens can be obnoxious for and she has the cliques down as well.  Even though there are many things going on — including a love triangle — the author kept it on track and didn’t waver from the original plot of the story.  I liked how Mackenzie came across as a person you either knew in school, or actually be the person you were in school.  It is very easy to relate to her and her struggles.

A fresh and fun new read that keeps it clean for the young adults but has the parents laughing as well.  I am glad to have given this book a chance in a genre that is full of paranormal at the moment.

Very Good! I would recommend this book!

Magic Burns
Kate Daniels #2
Author: Ilona Andrews
Source: Personal Purchase
Genre: Adult Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Ace (April 1, 2008)
ISBN-13: 978-0441015832

As a mercenary who cleans up after magic gone wrong, Kate Daniels knows how waves of paranormal energy ebb and flow across Atlanta like a tide. But once every seven years, a flare comes, a time when magic runs rampant. When Kate sets out to retrieve a set of stolen maps for the Pack, Atlanta’s paramilitary clan of shape shifters, she quickly realizes much more is at stake. The stolen maps are only the opening gambit in an epic tug of war between two gods hoping for rebirth, and if Kate can’t stop the cataclysmic showdown, the city may not survive.

Wow!  After reading the first book in the series Magic Bites,  I was still a little wary about getting to excited for the next books.  I was unsure since I have said before that I prefer Paranormal Romance because I want a little romantic tension with my characters.  Urban Fantasy doesn’t focus on the romance usually, but with Magic Burns the author definitely kicked in the romantic tension along the journey.

Kate proved to be more than just an ordinary mercenary in this one.  She showed compassion, strength, determination and weakness of emotions.  I was cheering for her all the way until the last word in the last chapter.  Kate definitely was a better character in this installment than the last.  I also enjoyed previous characters making an encore appearance as well.  Derek was involved more in this story which was definitely a plus!  I also thought the interaction between Derek and Ghastek was at times hilarious and I look forward to them being left alone together in a room with no holds barred.

The revelation of Andrea’s personal secret was interesting and the author handled Kate’s discovery of it great.  I loved how Kate stood by her and told her that it didn’t matter to her what that secret involved.  Aunt B even showed a little compassion and made me like her a little bit when helping Andrea when needed.  Julie was a great compliment in the character of Kate.  I liked how Julie brought out the mothering instinct in Kate, but she also had secrets of her own.  When Kate takes her under her wing, you just know that Kate would die for her if needed.

While Curran is starting to grow on me even more, I only had one problem with him in this book.  Where the heck was he for most of it?  I was disappointed in the fact that he didn’t really get any story time until the last half of the book.  I needed my furry Curran fix!  And that ending featuring Kate and Curran at her house was perfect!  I couldn’t have asked for a better ending for this book.  It made me jump up and grab the next book so I could dive back in and see what happens.

Overall I think this book was much better than the first.  Now that the world the author has created is set up and all the players have been in place, I find myself swept up in the magic and story.  I can’t wait to see what the author brings next!

“You shouldn’t provoke me.”  His voice dropped low.  He suddenly looked slightly hungry.  “You never know what I might do if I’m not fully in control of myself.”
Mayday.  Mayday.  “I shudder at the thought.”
“I usually have that effect on women.”
Ha!  “Is that before or after they pee on themselves and show you their furry bellies?”
–Kate and Curran, page 94

The vampire stared at me, his mouth slack as Ghastek assessed his options.  I took a couple of forms from my desk, put them into the vamp’s mouth, and pulled them up by their edges.
“What are you doing?”
“My hole puncher broke.”
“You have no respect for the undead.”
–Kate and Ghastek, page 117

Very Good! I would recommend this book!

Magic Bites
Kate Daniels #1
Author: Ilona Andrews
Source: Personal Purchase
Genre: Adult Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Ace (March 27, 2007)
ISBN-13: 978-0441014897

Atlanta would be a nice place to live, if it weren’t for magic . . . 


One moment magic dominates, and cars stall and guns fail. The next, technology takes over and the defensive spells no longer protect your house from monsters. Here skyscrapers topple under onslaught of magic; werebears and werehyenas prowl through the ruined streets; and the Masters of the Dead, necromancers driven by their thirst of knowledge and wealth, pilot blood-crazed vampires with their minds. In this world lives Kate Daniels. Kate likes her sword a little too much and has a hard time controlling her mouth. The magic in her blood makes her a target, and she spent most of her life hiding in plain sight. But when Kate’s guardian is murdered, she must choose to do nothing and remain safe or to pursue his preternatural killer. Hiding is easy, but the right choice is rarely easy . . .

After hearing a few other bloggers I know rave about this series, I finally decided to cave and give it a try.  The main reason I was so hesitant in reading this series is because I am not a huge reader of urban fantasy.  I prefer Paranormal Romance over Urban Fantasy because I enjoy the romance over the blood.  With everyone talking about Curran and Kate though, I figured there must be some sort of romance in the story that would make it pleasant for me to read.

What I completely forgot about in Urban Fantasy though is the roughness of the characters for lack of better word.  Kate is strong, but she isn’t living a perfect life you find in most stories.  She is a mercenary — paid to kill things — and has a serious magical boost in her veins.  This world that you venture into is filled with magic, necromancers, shapechangers and vampires that are completely different than my usual norm of reading.  They are meaner, stronger, and at times grotesque with no hint of sparkle anywhere.

There was a lot of information packed into this book and made it a little too much for a casual reader of this genre.  I enjoyed the character of Kate and her strong will. She was determined to find the person responsible for the death of her guardian.  Curran was a strong leader and was a great opposite for Kate.  They both kept each other in check and didn’t put up with the others snippy attitude at times.  Derek was fun, but I wish we could have read about him a little more.

The person I suspected of being the killer was not the correct guess on my part.  I could have sworn it was a possible love interest of Kate’s, but the author threw me for a loop and took off in another direction that I wasn’t really expecting.  I love how an author can lead you down one path with bread crumbs and then push your theories back in your face with a new path.

While it was not my favorite book,  I will say that this book captured my interest enough to keep me going with the future books.  I am curious to see if Curran and Kate will develop a bigger relationship than just friends.  I am also curious to see what the author can come up with in the next book.  A new Urban Fantasy series to add to my list!

Very Good! I would recommend this book!

Bewitching
Author: Alex Flinn
Source: ATWT
Reading level: Ages 13 and up
Publisher: HarperTeen (February 14, 2012)
ISBN-13: 978-0062024145

Kendra Hilferty, the witch who curses Kyle Kingsbury in Beastly, tells about her immortal existence-how she discovered she was a witch and the various ways she has used her powers to help people throughout the centuries. (Unfortunately her attempts have often backfired.) As it turns out, Kendra has actually had a hand in “Hansel and Gretel,” “The Princess and the Pea,” and “The Little Mermaid”-but these are not the fairy tales you think you know! Kendra’s reminiscences are wrapped around a real-time version of “Cinderella,” except the “ugly” stepsister is the good guy. With dark twists, hilarious turns, and unexpected endings, Bewitching is a contemporary read for fairy-tale lovers, fantasy fans, and anyone looking for more Alex Flinn.

If you remember Beastly that was written by this author, then you also remember the witch that was involved in that book named Kendra.  In Bewitching, we get to read about how Kendra became a witch and her life before Beastly.

What I loved about this book was the new twist on the fairy-tales that author Alex Flinn does so well.  With the new take on some well known stories, the author takes you on an adventure of survival, love, magic and so much more.  I absolutely loved Kendra in this book.  I loved how she was protective and willing to do what was needed of her. With new adventures of Cinderella and Hansel and Gretel, you will be rethinking everything you have heard about those fairy-tales of youth.

If you were a fan of Beastly then I think you will enjoy this one just as much.  Enjoy the whimsical ride of Kendra and her life story.

Very Good! I would recommend this book!