Category Archives: 5 Flames

BITTER END
Author: Jennifer Brown
Source: Publisher
*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (May 10, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0316086959
ISBN-13: 978-0316086950

SUMMARY:

When Alex falls for the charming new boy at school, Cole, a handsome, funny, sports star who adores her, she can’t believe she’s finally found her soul mate-someone who truly understands her and loves her for who she really is.

At first, Alex is blissfully happy. Sure, Cole seems a little jealous of her relationship with her best friends, Zack and Bethany, but what guy would want his girlfriend spending all of her time with another boy? But as the months pass, Alex can no longer ignore Cole’s small put-downs, pinches, or increasingly violent threats. As Alex struggles to come to terms with the sweet boyfriend she fell in love with and the boyfriend whose “love” she no longer recognizes, she is forced to choose – between her “true love” and herself.

MY THOUGHTS:

I actually finished reading this book a few days ago but I was at a loss for words on how to describe my feelings for it in a post.  Yes, it was that good and that emotional of a read.  Physical abuse in the young adult genre is a subject that is not touched on that much.  I think authors are either afraid to talk about it in a novel for this genre, or it might even be something that is frowned upon.  In Bitter End, author Jennifer Brown stepped over that boundary and gave it her all.  I am so happy that she did and shared a story that teens need to be aware of.

I could understand when Alex falls for Cole.  He seems like the perfect guy that is sexy, sweet and romantic. Yet as you read further into the relationship, you start to realize that Cole isn’t so perfect.  He is possessive, controlling, and yes he is abusive.  We can all say that we would never be in a relationship that involves abuse, but you never really know what a person goes through and how easy it is to fall into this trap of a relationship.  The way the author tells the story,  she builds it to where the abuse is slow in progression.  You don’t realize you are in one until you are in too deep.

When Alex starts making excuses for Cole and his actions, you start to feel the conflict that she is going through in picking between her love for Cole and her love for her friends.  I cannot express how much this book effected me.  It was written beautifully and in my opinion, needs to be in school libraries for young teens to read.

If you haven’t already bought your copy of Bitter End, you need to grab yourself one.  An emotional read that will have you thinking about the book for days after.

MY RATING:

DIE FOR ME
Author: Amy Plum
Source: Gifted

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: HarperTeen (May 10, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0062004018
ISBN-13: 978-0062004017

SUMMARY:

My life had always been blissfully, wonderfully normal. But it only took one moment to change everything.
Suddenly, my sister, Georgia, and I were orphans. We put our lives into storage and moved to Paris to live with my grandparents. And I knew my shattered heart, my shattered life, would never feel normal again. Then I met Vincent. 

Mysterious, sexy, and unnervingly charming, Vincent Delacroix appeared out of nowhere and swept me off my feet. Just like that, I was in danger of losing my heart all over again. But I was ready to let it happen.
Of course, nothing is ever that easy. Because Vincent is no normal human. He has a terrifying destiny, one that puts his life at risk every day. He also has enemies . . . immortal, murderous enemies who are determined to destroy him and all of his kind. 

While I’m fighting to piece together the remnants of my life, can I risk putting my heart—as well as my life and my family’s—in jeopardy for a chance at love?

MY THOUGHTS:

Die For Me is the debut book from new author Amy Plum.  After reading this book, it is hard to imagine this being her first book!  The author did an amazing job with her writing and character building that can keep up with even seasoned authors in this genre.

After the death of her parents, Kate and her sister Georgia move to Paris to live with her grandparents.  They are both trying to work through the loss of their parents, but they each do it in a different way.  Georgia is a party girl who wants to live in the fast lane.  She goes clubbing and always seems to run with the wrong crowd.  Kate is quieter in her suffering.  She would rather read in her room or coffee shop, stay to herself and focus on returning to school, and try to move her life forward slowly.  You can tell that both girls are still grieving but processing the loss in their own ways. 

When Kate meets Vincent, she is instantly attracted to him.  He is sexy, sweet and mysterious.  They balanced each other out nicely and each brought something unique to the romance.  The paranormal theme of this book was something refreshing and exciting.  I loved the side characters as well, with Jules being my favorite. As you read further into the book, the characters really start to come alive in your mind and you can’t help but pick your favorites. 

Again, I am in awe that this is the authors first book.  I finished reading this book within a matter of hours and was sad when the story ended.  The romance may be a bit predictable, but the story within the romance is something unique and creative.  I personally can’t wait to see what Ms. Plum will come up with next.  I am keeping my fingers crossed that Jules will get his own book as well.

MY RATING:

DIVERGENT
Author: Veronica Roth
Source: Amazon Vine
*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 496 pages
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books (May 3, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0062024027
ISBN-13: 978-0062024022

SUMMARY:


In Beatrice Prior’s dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can’t have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she’s chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she’s kept hidden from everyone because she’s been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

MY THOUGHTS:

Just when I thought that The Hunger Games series was going to stay at my number one spot for books read in 2011, along comes Divergent. I know everyone has been reading the awesome reviews on this book–I sure have!– but I can honestly say that the reviews are nothing compared to the book!  I understand now why people like myself, who try to review and express their feelings on something they have read that is so great, why we have a hard time putting it into words.

There is not a word I can think of off the top of my head that can express my enjoyment and excitement for this book.  At first glance, you look at the sheer volume of this book –487 pages in ARC format– and wonder if it is even possible to finish this book in a week.  As soon as I cracked open the front cover and started reading chapter one though, the time flew by! I devoured this book in two days.  It might have been only one day if I didn’t need things such as food or sleep.

I loved everything about this book.  The characters were phenomenal and they each brought a certain balance to the book.  Their are people you will swoon over  (hubba-hubba Four!),  people you will loathe  (boo Peter!), and characters you will cry over (Tris’ Mother –sniff,sniff). There is action, romance and strong characters that will blow you away!

There is not much more I can say to convince you to read this book if you haven’t yet.  When release day is here, you will want to have one in your hands!  I personally can’t wait to see how the author plans on topping this first installment in this series! One choice is all you need! Get the book!

MY RATING:

THE GODDESS TEST
Author: Aimee Carter
Source: Gifted

Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Harlequin; Original edition (April 19, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0373210264
ISBN-13: 978-0373210268

SUMMARY:

It’s always been just Kate and her mom—and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate’s going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won’t live past the fall.

Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld—and if she accepts his bargain, he’ll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.
Kate is sure he’s crazy—until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she’ll become Henry’s future bride, and a goddess.

MY THOUGHTS:

I was in awe of this story!  To think an author can take a subject that I had no desire in learning in school,  then turning it into a subject that I loved was amazing!  I was never a fan of Greek Mythology in school.  To me it was confusing and not worth my teenage time to learn.  As I started reading this story though, I found myself looking up the tales of the Greeks and finding a spark of interest in it that I didn’t realize I would ever find.

The story was amazing and the characters were great!  I seriously am having a hard time trying to think of new and amazing words to describe this book.  I loved how the romance between Henry and Kate was slow building and felt real.  I felt the two connected in a way that is rare in teen books today.  They start as friends, eventually discover they love each other, and they both are real together.  They have issues to deal with that are not only dangerous,  but issues that have happened in the past and present that they face together.

I was constantly looking at each character as a test.  I wanted to know exactly which character was actually which Greek God or Goddess.  While a few were simple enough to figure out,  some where a mystery that is revealed in the end.  The seven tests that Kate must pass to save her Mother and Henry were great.  I loved wondering what was a test and what wasn’t throughout the story.  When the tests are revealed in the final scenes,  I found myself wondering if she passed each one since she didn’t know what exactly they were.  The author kept me guessing at who was behind the betrayal and how it would play out.

Again, I am in awe with the story!  I feel like rereading the book just so I can get my fix of sweet romance and Greek mythology again. It has been awhile since an author has made me feel so connected in a young adult book to the characters and hooked me for another must read series!  Thank you Ms. Carter for opening my eyes to the Greeks and the story of innocent young love again!

MY RATING:

Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke’s Heart
Author: Sarah MacLean
Source: Publisher
*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Avon (April 26, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0061852074
ISBN-13: 978-0061852077

SUMMARY:

She lives for passion.

Bold, impulsive, and a magnet for trouble, Juliana Fiori is no simpering English miss. She refuses to play by society’s rules: she speaks her mind, cares nothing for the approval of the ton, and can throw a punch with remarkable accuracy. Her scandalous nature makes her a favorite subject of London’s most practiced gossips . . . and precisely the kind of woman The Duke of Leighton wants far far away from him.

He swears by reputation.

Scandal is the last thing Simon Pearson has room for in his well-ordered world. The Duke of Disdain is too focused on keeping his title untainted and his secrets unknown. But when he discovers Juliana hiding in his carriage late one evening—risking everything he holds dear—he swears to teach the reckless beauty a lesson in propriety. She has other plans, however; she wants two weeks to prove that even an unflappable duke is not above passion.

MY THOUGHTS:

This book is the third book in the Love By Numbers Series.  After reading the first book in the series, I was filled with excitement in finding the joy in historical romance.  Then I read the second book in the series and was less than thrilled.  Since I had already started the series, I decided to accept the review copy and give the author another chance to wow me with the third book.

Readers, this book surpassed my excitement that I had with the first book.  It was a complete turn around from the second book as well.  With Juliana and Simon focused on in this book, my love for Historical Romance has been renewed.  I admit that I had reservations on how the author was going to make Simon a character that I would enjoy.  Let’s face it, Simon could be a stuck up jerk half the time, but I loved how the author sucked me into his web of love.  Juliana was wonderful as well.  I loved how she was portrayed and how she was able to bring Simon down a couple of notches. 

I devoured this book in less than 3 hours!  If I didn’t have a bunch of books sitting in my to-read pile right now,  I would seriously consider rereading it again.  If you are a new reader to this genre or are just looking for a new Historical Romance to read,  then this is the book!  This author has made me open my eyes to this genre a little wider and it will leave you breathless!

MY RATING: