Category Archives: 5 Flames

Blood Promise
Vampire Academy #4
Author: Richelle Mead
Source: Personal Purchase
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal
Publisher: Razorbill
 (April 6, 2010)
ISBN-13: 978-1595143105

The recent Strigoi attack at St. Vladimir’s Academy was the deadliest ever in the school’s history, claiming the lives of Moroi students, teachers, and guardians alike. Even worse, the Strigoi took some of their victims with them . . . including Dimitri.


He’’d rather die than be one of them, and now Rose must abandon her best friend, Lissa, —the one she has sworn to protect no matter what, —and keep the promise Dimitri begged her to make long ago. But with everything at stake, how can she possibly destroy the person she loves most?

Why do I put myself through this? Why do I always pick the books that like to play havoc with my emotions?  It seems with each book in this series, the emotional impact gets greater and greater.  The author is a master story teller when it comes to this series!  Each book is getting better and the characters continue to grow.

Rose is on a mission to find Dimitri.   She knows he is Strigoi now, and she needs to fulfill her promise on putting Dimitri at rest.  She travels to his home in Siberia in the hopes of finding him and killing the love of her life.  The first half of this book was focusing on Rose and her search for Dimitri.  We get to meet new fighters and even his family.  I loved his family and you could tell from the love the family shared that Dimitri grew up in a wonderful home and helped shape him into the man he is.  The interaction between Rose and Dimitri’s family was bittersweet though because you have to read about their mourning of his passing and how they needed to move on with their lives.

The second half of the book brings Dimitri back into the picture.  Frankly, I wanted him to be present for the entire book, but the author needed to go through the search for him first.  When he appears though, you get excited to finally have him back in the picture, but you can also tell he is not the same.  Aside from the physical appearance that has changed with him, you can also tell that he is changed emotionally.  Like Rose discovers, he is Dimitri but he is also not Dimitri.  My heart broke so much for him.  There were moments that the old Dimitri would surface in his actions and words, but then he would do something that proves he is not what he used to be.

When Rose and Dimitri finally have their final confrontation, after he has subjected her to being his play toy, I could feel the emotional turmoil that Rose had to go through because of the outstanding writing that the author provided.  Seriously readers, this author knows her stuff.

After finishing this book, I am a little hesitant in starting the next one.  I desperately want to find out more but at the same time I don’t.  I am scared of what the author is going to throw at me next and I am hoping it is just as great as this one.

Outstanding book that will stay on my bookshelf for rereading!

Shadow Kiss
Vampire Academy #3
Author: Richelle Mead
Source: Personal Purchase
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal
Publisher: Razorbill
 (November 13, 2008)
ISBN-13: 978-1595141972

Is Rose’s fate to kill the person she loves most? It’s springtime at St. Vladimir’s Academy, and Rose Hathaway is this close to graduation. Since Mason’s death, Rose hasn’t been feeling quite right. She has dark flashbacks in the middle of practice, can’t concentrate in class, and has terrifying dreams about Lissa. But Rose has an even bigger secret …. She’s in love with Dimitri. And this time, it’s way more than a crush. Then Strigoi target the academy in the deadliest attack in Moroi history, and Dimitri is taken. Rose must protect Lissa at all costs, but keeping her best friend safe could mean losing Dimitri forever…

This series is getting better and better with each book I read.  I liked the first book, loved the second book, but I am head over heals IN LOVE with Shadow Kiss.  This one had the action, the romance, and of course more heartbreak and angst.

Rose has matured a bit for me in this book.  I especially love how she stood up for her own needs over what Lissa wants near the end.  I love how she finally has realized that there are things she needs to have in her life at this moment in her life she is going to finally use her courage and strength to do it.  Every time Rose thought she was having a ‘crazy episode’, my heart started to crack with sadness.  When she starts seeing Mason, I wanted comfort Rose and make her believe that she is not seeing things.  I really wish she would have told Dimitri sooner though so that they could have figured out what was really going on sooner.

I also feel that Rose needs to take the advice that others have given her and accept that Lissa is stronger than Rose realizes.  She should have also confided in Lissa about being in love with Dimitri.  They are suppose to be best friends, but it seems Rose never uses her as a best friend should in sharing secrets.

When the puzzle starts piecing together and the action really kicks into full gear, the author again wreaked havoc on my emotions.  How could she do this to our beloved Dimitri?  After Rose and Dimitri finally figure a possible way of making a relationship work, she pulls the rug out from underneath us and does the worst.

Then we have Adrian. Oh playful and flirtatious Adrian.  I have fallen for him as well.  I love his witty humor and laid back personality.  I enjoyed it when he was trying to capture the magic of Spirit and bring the plants back to life with Lissa.  I loved his actions with Rose and how he would do anything he could for her.  The final scenes with Rose and Adrian were so sweet and tender that I found myself crying with his words.

Overall, these books are just getting better and I keep having to change my favorite book in the series as I go.  If you haven’t read this series yet, you are definitely missing out on not only a great story but amazing writing as well.

Outstanding book that will stay on my bookshelf for rereading!

Frostbite
Vampire Academy #2
Author: Richelle Mead
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal
Publisher: Razorbill
 (April 10, 2008)
ISBN-13: 978-1595141750

Rose loves Dimitri, Dimitri might love Tasha, and Mason would die to be with Rose…


It’s winter break at St. Vladimir’s, but Rose is feeling anything but festive. A massive Strigoi attack has put the school on high alert, and now the Academy’s crawling with Guardians—including Rose’s hard-hitting mother, Janine Hathaway. And if hand-to-hand combat with her mom wasn’t bad enough, Rose’s tutor Dimitri has his eye on someone else, her friend Mason’s got a huge crush on her, and Rose keeps getting stuck in Lissa’s head while she’s making out with her boyfriend, Christian! The Strigoi are closing in, and the Academy’s not taking any risks… This year, St. Vlad’s annual holiday ski trip is mandatory.


But the glittering winter landscape and the posh Idaho resort only create the illusion of safety. When three friends run away in an offensive move against the deadly Strigoi, Rose must join forces with Christian to rescue them. But heroism rarely comes without a price…

Over two years ago I started reading this series.  I read the first book Vampire Academy and loved it.  I don’t know why I didn’t continue on with the series, but I really wish I had kept reading them.  Now that I am back to reading them, I am just glad to have the whole set so I don’t have to stop again!

We return back to St. Vladimir Academy shortly after the last one left off.  Rose is still training with Dimitri and protective of Lissa.  Lissa is still in love Christian and Mia is still the witch of the group.  Now though, the Strigoi are getting bolder and smarter though.  When they target the Royal families by working with humans, many will die, and few will make it until the end of the book.

While Rose tended to get on my nerves just a tad bit with her whining and attitude,  I found that I was willing to embrace it because it is that personality that makes her Rose.  Without the bad attitude, she wouldn’t be the character we love.  I could understand some of the resentment she had towards her Mother, but I still wanted to slap Rose at times and to tell her to show her Mother some respect.  For all of her Mother’s fault, she is still her Mother and a strong fighter at that.

Mason was great in this book.  I really wanted him to have a happy ending, but I just didn’t want it to be with Rose.  Dimitri will always be the one I hope Rose ends up with no matter what.  I just feel a better chemistry is evolving between Dimitri and Rose.  Mason though does have some strong traits that made me swoon.  I loved his loyalty to his friends, and his love for Rose felt to me to be more than just a crush.  I seriously cried for hours after his final scene in the book.  When Rose protected him and wouldn’t let anyone near them was truly heartbreaking.  In a way, I wish the author wouldn’t have put me through this but I do know it was a story that helped the book progress.

Dimitri is still Dimitri.  He is still sexy and fierce, but he does show a softer side in this book.  I loved seeing him struggle with his emotions towards Rose.  It just goes to show how much he is holding back where Rose is concerned.  They both have feelings for each other, but they also know they can’t act on them.  When Dimitri is presented with a chance to have a different job opportunity along with a different female, I felt what Rose was feeling in her heart.  I was jealous, angered, and overall disappointed at the thought of him leaving.  When his decision is revealed though, it is sweet and so Dimitri.

I think I loved this book even more than the first one.  The author knows how to write perfectly and makes reading the series exciting and suspenseful.  The romance is sweet, hot and perfect as well with plenty of action on the battle field to keep it balanced.  Another hit from a well loved author and a series that I will continue reading this time!

MY PREVIOUS REVIEW OF VAMPIRE ACADEMY #1: FOUND HERE

Outstanding book that will stay on my bookshelf for rereading!

Fifty Shades Darker
Fifty Shades #2
Author: E.L. James
Genre: Adult Erotic Romance
Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 1775 KB
Publisher: The Writer’s Coffee Shop Publishing House
    (September 13, 2011)
ASIN: B005N0PJJO

Daunted by the singular sexual tastes and dark secrets of the beautiful, tormented young entrepreneur Christian Grey, Anastasia Steele has broken off their relationship to start a new career with a Seattle publishing house. 


But desire for Christian still dominates her every waking thought, and when he proposes a new arrangement, Anastasia cannot resist. They rekindle their searing sensual affair, and Anastasia learns more about the harrowing past of her damaged, driven and demanding Fifty Shades. 


While Christian wrestles with his inner demons, Anastasia must confront the anger and envy of the women who came before her, and make the most important decision of her life.

After being sucked into the dark world of Christian Grey in the first book, I wasn’t sure if my emotions and heart could survive another part of his story.  Seriously, after the first book I was just drained of emotion and my head was spinning from the enigma of Christian Grey.  Sexual power, control, and wealth is the bubble of Christian.  He knows what satisfies him and he doesn’t like the word no being in the script. Or does he?

This part of the story picks up a few days after Ana has left him.  She is falling apart and going through some deep emotions after losing what she thought was love. Christian is also going through hell without his shining light in his dark world.  I personally felt crushed for Christian because he is struggling with so much and change is not an easy thing for him.  He loves his control and now that Ana has left, he feels all his control slipping away.

We also get to see a more playful and romantic side of Christian than what was presented in the first part of this series.  I agree with Ana and enjoy this side of Fifty so much more.  He has so much love to give, but he is not sure how to do it.  When they finally reunite, we get to see them both struggle with trying to make their relationship work without all of the kinky involved.  Christian starts to realize that real love doesn’t have to involve all of his previous quirks, but he does realize that he will always have it in the back of his mind scratching at the surface.  Ana wants to show him what love can be without the darkness and show him love with touch and support.

I must say that  the tamed down kinky in this book is just as hot as the previous book.  I will never look at an elevator, piano, pool table, wall or boathouse the same way again!  Oh and the things he could do with that pinkie finger of his was just moan worthy.  Although I must say, I am curious to know more about what he can do with a cat like he hinted at. *hmmm* Then my heart bled for Christian in the scene where he thinks Ana is going to leave him again due to his dark past.  Christian on his knees in that state of distress will haunt my dreams from now on.  I cried at the breakdown of his personality and felt all the control that is so him slip away.

Then when Elena — the woman who is a sore spot for Ana — gets her just desserts from not only Ana and Christian, but also gets an ear full from Christian’s Mother, I was secretly cheering “Go Grace!”  I was waiting for Grace to turn her over her knee and give her a true spanking that she deserved.

While the ending will be one readers will enjoy and swoon with, it does have a small section to reveal what is to come.  We still need to see the aftermath from Christian’s change of course in life and who is planning the destruction of his world.  I think I know who it is and I just know that the next and final book is going to put me over the edge! Dark, sensual, and oh so Fifty Shades of fucked up!

“Let me ask you something first. Do you want a regular vanilla relationship with no kinky fuckery at all?”
My mouth drops open. “Kinky fuckery?” I squeak.
“Kinky fuckery.”
“I can’t believe you said that.”
“Well, I did. Answer me,” he says calmly.
I flush. My inner goddess is down on bended knee with her hands clasped in supplication begging me.
“I like your kinky fuckery,” I whisper.”
–Ana and Christian

“I don’t know whether to worship at your feet or spank the living shit out of you.”
–Christian to Ana

Ode to Fifty
Darkened soul
That needs to take flight
Ana Steele enters
And now there is light
I introduced you
to my pain
in the red room
insight you will gain
Spank you and bind you
this I enjoy
red bottom from rulers
you are now my toy
On a pool table or a car
on a boat under the stars
In an elevator or shower
or bench with ropes and bars

the piano as well
wherever I choose
our control will slip
our sanity we will lose
Fifty shades of fucked up
this you will learn
a smack to the bottom
so sweet and so firm
so step into my world
what do you say
My name is Christian
Fifty Shades of Grey

Outstanding book that will stay on my bookshelf for rereading!

Dead To You
Author: Lisa McMann
Source: Amazon Vine
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Simon Pulse
 (February 7, 2012)
ISBN-13: 978-1442403888

Ethan was abducted from his front yard when he was just seven years old. Now, at sixteen, he has returned to his family. It’s a miracle… at first. Then the tensions start to build. His reintroduction to his old life isn’t going smoothly, and his family is tearing apart all over again. If only Ethan could remember something, anything, about his life before, he’d be able to put the pieces back together. But there’s something that’s keeping his memory blocked. Something unspeakable…

I am a huge fan of author Lisa McMann after reading her Wake trilogy last year.  So when I heard about this book through other readers and noticed it was available through the Amazon Vine program, I jumped on the chance to read and review it early.  I did the fan girl squee and clicked accept on my Amazon page.  When it arrived, I dropped everything to read this book and even stayed up late just to finish it.

When we start with the first chapter, we are reading about Ethan being reunited with his family after being abducted nine years ago.  To say that it is an emotional reunion is an understatement.  You can feel the pain that the parents have gone through and have dealt with over the years.  They are so excited to have him home that they even accept him on looks alone without agreeing to do the DNA test that the social worker offers to them.  When you are reading the book, we are reading from Ethan’s point of view and the emotions that he is struggling with.  He doesn’t remember anything from his time before the abduction and he is desperate to remember anything.  He studies the family photos and tries to make something click in his brain so he has something real to remember instead of shared memories from family and friends.

When his younger brother Blake starts studying genetic traits in his science class at school, he starts to piece together some disturbing facts about Ethan.  Blake never truly believed that Ethan is the real Ethan.  Reading the story, you don’t really know what to think about this.  At some points you are like Blake and questioning Ethan’s true identity, but other times you are believing that it truly is Ethan. When it is revealed at the end of the book, you are shocked and frustrated with the close of the story.  It is left in a cliffhanger-like ending that makes you wish there were at least a few more chapters of closure. At this time, I do not know if the author is going to write a sequel to this book, but after the ending she has left the reader with, I hope she seriously thinks about writing it!  I would love to learn more about Ethan and his story that follows after the reveal at the  end of the book.

Outstanding book that will stay on my bookshelf for rereading!

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