Category Archives: 4 Flames

PERFECTLY YOU
Author: Elizabeth Scott
Source: Personal Purchase

Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 282 pages
Publisher: Simon Pulse; Original edition (March 25, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1416953558
ISBN-13: 978-1416953555

Kate Brown’s life has gone downhill fast.

Her father has quit his job to sell vitamins at the mall, and Kate is forced to work with him. Her best friend has become popular, and now she acts like Kate’s invisible.

And then there’s Will. Gorgeous, unattainable Will, whom Kate acts like she can’t stand even though she can’t stop thinking about him. When Will starts acting interested, Kate hates herself for wanting him when she’s sure she’s just his latest conquest.

Kate figures that the only way things will ever stop hurting so much is if she keeps to herself and stops caring about anyone or anything. What she doesn’t realize is that while life may not always be perfect, good things can happen — but only if she lets them…

It is so gratifying when an author’s writing sucks you into the story the moment you read the first page.  Author Elizabeth Scott knows how to write! I fell in love with Kate’s witty and sarcastic mouth while trying to deal with a family that is falling apart. It is hard to find an author who can create teen’s in a book that act and talk like actual teens!


Kate’s Father quit his job and decided to follow his dream of selling Perfect You Vitamins at the mall.  I couldn’t help but laugh out loud with the opening scene of him in a bee costume trying to sell his vitamins to people. Not only is Kate embarrassed by this, but she is actually holding in a bunch of anger from what he did.  Not only has he practically made his children help out working the booth that is suppose to be his dream, but he has put the family in financial trouble as well.  The whole time her family is dealing with the new job scene, Kate is also missing her friend who has turned her back on her.  Add in the cute Will who seems to be flirting with her, and Kate seems to have a full plate!


While I loved the family struggle with the job struggles and the sweet romance that was emerging with Kate and Will,  I was not a big fan of the scenes with Anna and Kate.  Anna is Kate’s childhood best friend.  Up until this current school year, Anna has always been there for her and vice-versa.  I could tell from the beginning that Anna was just using her throughout the story.  I couldn’t stand it when she was on the page.  I wanted Kate to stand up to her, quit whining about losing her as a friend, and tell her to go stick it where the sun don’t shine!  


If you are looking for a quick and fun read by an awesome author, the Perfect You is perfect for you!  Humor, teen angst and romance that will keep you turning the page.

COLD KISS
Author: Amy Garvey
Source: Publisher
*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: HarperTeen (September 20, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 006199622X
ISBN-13: 978-0061996221

When her boyfriend, Danny, is killed in a car accident, Wren can’t imagine living without him. Wild with grief, she uses the untamed powers she’s inherited to bring him back. But the Danny who returns is just a shell of the boy she once loved.

Wren has spent four months keeping Danny hidden, while her life slowly unravels around her. Then Gabriel DeMarnes transfers to her school and somehow, inexplicably, he can sense her secret. Wren finds herself drawn to Gabriel, who is so much more alive than the ghost of the boy she loved. But Wren can’t turn her back on Danny or the choice she made for him—and she realizes she must find a way to make things right, even if it means breaking her own heart. 

I am not usually a big fan of zombie themed books.  With the exception of a select few,  I never understood the appeal to either cold, dead bodies for romance or brain eating shells of humans for entertainment.  That could be why I was a little hesitant on reading Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey.  After reading the first chapter though,  I just knew I was going to like this book though.


When Wren is devastated after losing her boyfriend Danny in a car accident, she does the unimaginable and brings him back from the dead.  Not an easy task to do, especially when your Mother refuses to tell you much about the family magic that is inside her.  Even though Wren does bring him back from the dead, she quickly realizes that Danny is not the same as he was before.  At first she keeps him locked in a neighbors garage while she attends school and such. While she is away, Danny feels confused and can’t stop thinking about Wren.  When she does see him after school and at night, he is cold to the touch and trying to remember things.  The only things he seems to remember though are events including Wren.  


She desperately wants to fix her mistake and give Danny peace finally, but she doesn’t know how to do it or if she is ready to let him go.  When Gabrielle, the new boy in school tells Wren that he knows about her powers, she is afraid of what he will do.  Instead of calling her a freak, he falls for Wren and tells her that he has certain powers as well.  Together they try to figure out a way to deal with Danny being undead and how to give him the peace he needs.  When Danny starts to remember the accident though, he escapes the garage and everything starts to fall into place in his mind.  


I loved Gabrielle as the third character in the book.  He was patient, kind and supportive without being too pushy or jealous.  Wren was okay, but I wished we could have seen more of her with Danny before the accident so I could have connected better with their relationship.  I understand that it hurts to lose someone that you love, but at times I wished we could have had more glimpse’s into their relationship before Wren brought him back.  I enjoyed the friends Wren had in the book and wished we could have seen more of them.  They were hurt the Wren had strayed from them since the funeral, but they could only be pushed so far before walking away from Wren.  I felt bad for them and wanted Wren to open up to them more. 


Overall this book has made the zombie romance a little more tolerable for me.  It made me stop thinking of zombies as brain eaters and started to enjoy them as a storyline that can be sweet and tortured in a good way.  I can also say that Amy Garvey is going to only get better with each book she writes.  Her storyline and pacing is perfect and she does great with details without going overboard.  I personally can’t wait to see what she will bring us next!

MY SOUL TO SAVE
Soul Screamers #2
Author: Rachel Vincent
Source: Personal Purchase

Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Harlequin Teen; Original edition (December 29, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0373210043
ISBN-13: 978-0373210046

When Kaylee Cavanaugh screams, someone dies.

So when teen pop star Eden croaks onstage and Kaylee doesn’t wail, she knows something is dead wrong. She can’t cry for someone who has no soul.

The last thing Kaylee needs right now is to be skipping school, breaking her dad’s ironclad curfew and putting her too-hot-to-be-real boyfriend’s loyalty to the test. But starry-eyed teens are trading their souls: a flickering lifetime of fame and fortune in exchange for eternity in the Netherworld—a consequence they can’t possibly understand.

Kaylee can’t let that happen, even if trying to save their souls means putting her own at risk….

My Soul To Save is the second book in the Soul Screamers series by author Rachel Vincent. After I finished reading the first book in the series, I had to have more of Kaylee and Nash.  Who would have thought that Banshee’s could be so exciting and fun to read about?

In this book, it starts out with Nash and Kaylee attending a concert.  The headlining act is popular pop star Eden who happens to drop dead in the middle of the concert.  Only there is one problem about her falling dead in the middle of the concert–Kaylee didn’t have the urge to scream for her Soul Song.  They quickly figure out that Eden had sold her soul to a hellion.  When Tod, who happens to be Nash’s reaper brother, asks for them to check on his ex-girlfriend Addison, things get even worse.  Addison, who is a pop star as well, has sold her soul to a hellion as well.  Together, they must figure out who is taking the souls and figure out a way to save Addison and her sister Regan before it is too late.

I almost feel bad for Nash and Kaylee.  They never get a break from their bean sidhe heritage long enough to enjoy a relationship.  Notice I said that I almost feel bad.  If Kaylee wasn’t such a good girl most of the time, she could be like Nash and remember that a lot of the trouble she goes looking for is not her business.  Yet as the story unfolded, I realized Kaylee is who she is and it defines her as a person.  It makes her character strong and I wouldn’t want the author to change her for anything.  I was annoyed at the fact that her Father decided to start acting like a Father after being gone for 13 years.  If I were Kaylee, I would have told him to back off a bit and give her some room to breathe.

I also loved Emma’s reaction to all of the supernatural business.  Don’t ask and don’t tell should be her motto. Yet when Tod revealed himself to her, I couldn’t stop laughing.  I absolutely love Tod and his witty mouth! Even though I didn’t like how he kept things from Kaylee, I know he was doing it out of love.  He is such a joy whenever he shows up in the story.

Overall I can honestly say I enjoyed this book.  Even though I didn’t enjoy it as much as the first book,  I still had fun reading it and following the action packed journey that Kaylee had to go on this time around.  I can’t wait to read the next book and see what the author can throw at Kaylee next time!

MY RATING:

FALLING UNDER
Author: Gwen Hayes
Source: Gifted

Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: NAL Trade (March 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0451232682
ISBN-13: 978-0451232687

SUMMARY:

Theia Alderson has always led a sheltered life in the small California town of Serendipity Falls. But when a devastatingly handsome boy appears in the halls of her school, Theia knows she’s seen Haden before- not around town, but in her dreams.

As the Haden of both the night and the day beckons her closer one moment and pushes her away the next, the only thing Theia knows for sure is that the incredible pull she feels towards him is stronger than her fear.

And when she discovers what Haden truly is, Theia’s not sure if she wants to resist him, even if the cost is her soul.

MY THOUGHTS:

I have no idea where to even start with the review of this book!  There were countless times I felt confused in this book.  There were many Oh My Gawd moments as well.  I felt as though the author had me trapped on a roller coaster with this book. I was pulled in many directions, and at times it didn’t make sense to me.


Theia for me was not much of a character.  She was distant and weak in my opinion.  Yes, she gets stronger near the end, but for the first half of the book I couldn’t stand to read much about her.  Her Father was a piece of work as well!  Talk about a distant Dad!  The rules he makes Theia follow were pretty strict and I didn’t think she deserved to have them.  She was talented in music and did well in school, but her family life was disappointing.  


Her friends on the other hand were great!  I loved Donny and her attitude.  She was one who would speak her mind and didn’t care what you thought about it!  Ame was more of a nut case spiritual friend that would make you want to grab all the organic stuff you can find!  Together they are a riot when they bicker and carry on around Theia.  Varnie was my favorite character by far in this book! I seriously hope we get to see more of him in future books!  A surfer dude in drag was definitely the funny character this book needed since there is a lot of dark and demon things going on in the book.


Overall not a bad book to read if you are looking for a dark young adult book instead of a light romance in this genre.  Definitely not a cutesy book, but one that will keep you guessing!


MY RATING:

DEVIL WITHOUT A CAUSE
Author: Terri Garey
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: 0061986399
ISBN-13: 978-0061986390

SUMMARY:


Idle hands are the devil’s workshop 

Temptation and seduction are the tricks of the Devil’s trade, and when offered the chance to regain his wings by playing guardian angel, he’s hell-bent on doing things his way . . . 

Faith McFarland is in need of a miracle. So desperate to save her sick child, she’s willing to make a deal with the Devil: steal a ring worn by Finn Payne, the bad-boy rockstar who long ago sold his soul for rock ‘n roll. Temptation and seduction become necessary evils, yet Faith’s salvation means Finn’s damnation . . . because the ring is all that stands between him and Hell. Falling in love was never part of the bargain, but now that they’ve tasted heaven in each other’s arms, can they convince the Devil to give up his due?

MY THOUGHTS:

I have never read any previous books by this author even though the character of the Devil is in a previous series.  This book branches off the Nicki Styx series that the author created, focusing on the Devil’s story of betrayal and love.  That being said though, I didn’t have a hard time figuring out what was going on since this book was set as a separate story series.  Yes, there was mentioning of the character Nicki, but it left me with no confusion and actually had me interested in buying that series as well.

The Devil is portrayed a little differently than usual in this series.  Yes he is still the fallen angel Lucifer, but he goes by different names and he is sexy as hell.  He dresses with the current fads, and he even likes mingling with humans as well.  While I enjoyed his conversations with Gabriel the Angel, and his devious nature of lies and seduction, the character of Finn was my favorite by far!  A rock star who has sex appeal and a heart of gold is perfect for the single mother Faith.  They had chemistry and he stole the focus of the book!  While Faith seemed a little wishy-washy to me, I still liked her enough to keep reading the story! When she makes a deal with the Devil to save her son from cancer, she has no idea the task he set her on will lead to love and completion.  When Finn figures out what is going on, he has secrets of his own that he needs to tell Faith so they can defeat the Devil at his own game. 

What I enjoyed the most is how the author made you feel sympathy and empathy for the Devil even though he is suppose to be a bad guy.  He actually seemed to be in the gray area instead of always black and white.  Pretty bad when you fall for the bad guy in the story and start cheering for him!  I wanted the Devil to have a happy ending as well.

All in all, a great new series by a great author.  The story building was great and paced nicely.  The romance was nice, even though it felt a little rushed at times.  The characters held my interest for the entire story. I also found an author who I am thrilled to add to my auto buy list!  I have even ordered the Nicki Styx series now so I can get more of the back history on the Devil!

MY RATING: