Category Archives: 4 Flames

HERE LIES BRIDGET
Author: Paige Harbison
Source: Publisher
*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Harlequin; Original edition (January 18, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0373210280
ISBN-13: 978-0373210282

SUMMARY:


Bridget Duke is the uncontested ruler of her school. The meanest girl with the biggest secret insecurities. And when new girl Anna Judge arrives, things start to fall apart for Bridget: friends don’t worship as attentively, teachers don’t fall for her wide-eyed “who me?” look, expulsion looms ahead and the one boy she’s always loved—Liam Ward—can barely even look at her anymore.

When a desperate Bridget drives too fast and crashes her car, she ends up in limbo, facing everyone she’s wronged and walking a few uncomfortable miles in their shoes. Now she has only one chance to make a last impression. Though she might end up dead, she has one last shot at redemption and the chance to right the wrongs she’s inflicted on the people who mean the most to her.

And Bridget’s about to learn that, sometimes, saying you’re sorry just isn’t enough….

MY THOUGHTS:

This book reminded me a lot of the movie Mean Girls.  We have Bridget who is the leader of her pack and one of the most popular girls in school.  She has the attitude of a witch and she is not afraid to speak her mind.  Amongst all her verbal abuse towards her friends and such, Bridget actually thinks she is being a great friend and helping them understand their faults.  I couldn’t stand her attitude and didn’t approve of the way she treated people.  I hated the fact that she would treat people the way she did and think it was perfectly okay.

When newcomer Ann Judge arrives at school, Bridget finds herself pushed out of the spotlight and not liking it one bit.  Anna on the other hand, was sweet and friendly, and deserved to be friends with the people in school.  When Bridget has a horrible day at school from telling one too many lies, she is upset and decides to run her car off the road.  At the last minute though, Bridget changes her mind about it, but it is too late.  Instead of going to Heaven or Hell, Bridget finds herself in a boardroom and faced with people she has wronged in life.  Anna is the head judge of the group.  Anna basically tells Bridget that she has to walk in these peoples shoes for a bit and see what her lies and attitude has done to them.  What Bridget discovers is in their lives is enough to make her rethink her actions.  When all is said and done, Anna gets to decide Bridget’s fate.

I loved this book.  At first I had no interest really in reading it, but the publisher insisted that I would love it.  I bow to her knowledge and am thankful I had the chance to read it.  While it is not one of the best books out there, only because it is a story that has been done time and again, the writing was great and made me feel like I was there with Bridget every step of the way.  While I couldn’t stand her most of the time,  I found myself understanding her better by the end of the book.

If you are looking for a cute and fast read to get you out of a reading slump, or even if you just want a fun read for now,  Here Lies Bridget is a new book you should add to your list.  I loved the authors take on the subject and she has captured a new fan of her writing!

MY RATING:

Very Good! I would recommend this book! 4 STARS

THE LIPSTICK LAWS
Author: Amy Holder
Source: Gifted from friend

Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Graphia (April 4, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9780547363066
ISBN-13: 978-0547363066

SUMMARY:

THE WELCOME HOME GARDEN CLUB
A Twilight, Texas Novel #4
Author: Lori Wilde
Source: Publisher
*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Avon (March 29, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 006198843X
ISBN-13: 978-0061988431

SUMMARY:

Traditional meaning of Pink and White Roses: I love you still and always will.

He still aches for Caitlyn, and now there’s a dark-haired boy who looks exactly like Gideon did at that age. Could the child be his? And can this war-weary soldier overcome the scars of the past to claim the family he so richly deserves?

MY THOUGHTS:

I am in love with this author and her novels!  I always love the people of Twilight, Texas that she introduces me to with each new installment of the series.  Not only does she bring new romance with each book, but she also does my favorite thing and bring back characters from the previous books!  I love when an author reminds the reader of previous books in the series by integrating them into the current read. 


With this book, we meet Caitlyn Marsh who owns the florist shop in town.  After having a whirlwind romance as a teenager with Gideon Garza, she discovers that she is pregnant and hires a detective to locate him after he enlists in the army after a run in with the law.  The detective informs her that he died in service and she finds herself devastated.  What she doesn’t know is that someone paid off the detective back then and made him lie about Gideon being dead.  Caitlyn moves on with her life and marries the local florist in town.  Her son is given a name, but everyone in town knows the truth of who the father really is. 


Gideon was the result of an affair between one of the richest men in town and the hired help.  His true father refuses to acknowledge him when Gideon confronts him with the paternity issue and it angers him to the point that he burns the rich mans barn to the ground.  Caitlyn’s father, who happens to be the judge in town, offers him the ultimatum of jail time or army time.  While Gideon chooses the army, he never expected to lose not only the love of his life, but also his hand in a bombing. 


When Gideon’s father passes away, he is shocked to learn that he has just inherited the ranch and the bulk of his monetary estate.  Add to this the anger from two half brothers still coping with the death of their father, and you can guarantee there is going to be some turmoil and revenge.  Now Gideon must return to Twilight and figure out if he wants to accept the money and ranch, or stay away from the love of his life for good.  Upon returning to Twilight, Gideon finds out he is a Father and is shocked at the lengths that people took to keep Caitlyn out of his life.  When they both discover the truth though, their romance blossoms again and second chances are given.


While I enjoyed this story, it is not one of my favorites of the series.  I enjoyed the writing and the characters discovery of second chances, but I wish the author would have give us a chapter or two of the couple as a teenagers first before starting the current time frame.  I think if I would have read how the interacted as teens, I would have enjoyed their story more and could have understood how much they each suffered over the years.  


Other than that one point above, the book was a great new addition to the series.  I still wish I could find myself in the fictional town of  Twilight, Texas and enjoy each character on a daily basis.  A sweet romance to satisfy that sweet tooth when we want a true romance book to read. 


MY RATING:

ISLAND NIGHTS
Author: P.J. Mellor
Source: Publisher
*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Aphrodisia (March 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0758238193
ISBN-13: 978-0758238191

SUMMARY:

Checking out an old hotel on a remote island seems like a waste of time to Reese Parker. Why is her boss interested in this out-of-the-way place? And then she meets the ruggedly handsome and incredibly sexy Ben Adams…

He offers to be her local guide and suddenly what started out as a nightmare becomes an erotic dream come true. It’s been so long and he’s so hot…

All it takes is one kiss and Reese is consumed by desire. She wants to strip him naked, touch and taste his body, and surrender to the searing passion that burns within her… 

MY THOUGHTS:

The book starts out with Reese Parker searching her office for some paperwork.  After hearing some unusual noises coming from her bosses office,  Reese finds herself watching her boss in the act of some naughty play.  She finds herself highly aroused and ready for her business trip on an island called Sand Dollar.  What she isn’t ready for is Ben Adams.

The chemistry between the two was humorous and sexy.  They both like to antagonize the other while fighting the sexual attraction that is growing between the two.  I liked the characters of Reese and Ben.  They were both fun to read about and the sparks were intense.  What I didn’t like too much was the side characters.  Bailey and Paige were just okay, but I felt the book would have been better without those two. 

For an erotic romance, I found this book balanced in story and sex.  It had an actual plot intertwined with sex and fun.  If you are looking for a sexy romp book with a bit of humor involved, then this would be a perfect beach read.

MY RATING:

MILES FROM ORDINARY
Author: Carol Lynch Williams
Source: Publisher
*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 208 pages
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin; First Edition edition (March 15, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0312555121
ISBN-13: 978-0312555122

SUMMARY:

Thirteen-year-old Lacey wakes to a beautiful summer morning excited to begin her new job at the library, just as her mother is supposed to start work at the grocery store. Lacey hopes that her mother’s ghosts have finally been laid to rest; after all, she seems so much better these days, and they really do need the money. But as the hours tick by and memories come flooding back, a day full of hope spins terrifyingly out of control….

“No one can get inside the head and heart of a 13-year-old girl better than Carol Lynch Williams, and I mean no one,” said James S. Jacobs, Professor of Children’s Literature at Brigham Young University, of her breakout novel, The Chosen One. Now this award-winning YA author brings us an equally gripping story of a girl who loves her mother, but must face the truth of what life with that mother means for both of them.


MY THOUGHTS:

After reading the summary on this book, I wasn’t sure what to expect.  What was Lacey’s Mother recovering from and what is Lacey worried about?  Yet, as I read the book, I didn’t worry about the reason so much and just enjoyed the writing that the author was telling.

Lacey is worried about starting her first day as a volunteer at the library.  Her mother is also starting her first day of work at the local grocery store as a checker.  As you read the book, you can feel the intensity of worry and anticipation from both of the characters.  You actually feel the pain that both characters are going through because of the beautiful way the author wrote the book.

At first I was a little confused about Granddaddy.  I wasn’t sure if he was a figment of the imagination or if he was a ghost that was haunting them.  What is great about the writing is even if you are wondering these things, you don’t really try to work them out in your head.  You just simply accept what is written and keep going through the angst, drama, hope and love.

If you are looking for a book that will capture your interest, even without you realizing it,  then this is the book.  A great look into the world of mental illness and the effects that it can have on a family.  Beautiful writing that will capture you from the first page up until the end.

MY RATING: