Category Archives: 5 Flames

THE HUNGER GAMES
Book One of Three
Author: Suzanne Collins
Source: Purchased

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Scholastic Press; 1st edition (September 14, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0439023483
ISBN-13: 978-0439023481

SUMMARY:


Could you survive on your own, in the wild, with everyone out to make sure you don’t live to see the morning?

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister’s place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

MY THOUGHTS:

If you are a regular reader of books, you know about The Hunger Games Trilogy. I knew about the books, knew everyone was raving about them, but I just couldn’t bring myself to read them.  At first, the book didn’t seem to appeal to me.  The summary seemed to TV Survivor for me and the hype that was going around with the books made me cringe that they wouldn’t live up to my expectations.  Yet, I created a poll letting you–my blog readers–decide if I should read it as my first series of the year to review.  I admit that I complained to my family that The Hunger Games was in the lead.  I just knew that if this series was the winner of the poll, I would have to suffer through 3 books of reading that I would despise.  After the poll closed, and The Hunger Games was the clear winner, I dug out my copies of the books and started to read.  


Can I just say one thing? What the heck was I thinking???


I can’t believe I waited and dragged my feet about reading this book! By the end of the first chapter, I was so engrossed in this story that I could not put it down.  I barely set it down long enough to go on Twitter and tell everyone I was so stupid for not reading it!  The adventure, the suspense, the writing–all of it was amazing!  Each chapter seemed to end with a bigger climatic finish than the last.  I cried, cheered and my heart broke into a million pieces several times over in this book.  I absolutely fell in love with Peeta from the moment his eyes teared up on the train.  I loved Katniss from the moment she opened her mouth in the first chapter.  When it comes to Rue, my heart broke for her and I wanted to pick flowers for her as well.  


What more can I say about this book to convince you that you have to read it?  I was once a reader who kept saying that I would never read this series. If this is you, then I will tell you to read it! I was one of those people who didn’t believe it would live up to the hype and thought it sounded boring.  Now I am a fellow hard core fan of this series and I still have two more books to go.  It is still early on in the series, but I will say that I am Team Peeta!  What team are you on?


MY RATING:

Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading! 5 STARS

PROM & PREJUDICE
Author: Elizabeth Eulberg
Source: Publisher
*I received this book free of charge
in exchange for an honest review*

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Point (January 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0545240778
ISBN-13: 978-0545240772

SUMMARY:


After winter break, the girls at the very prestigious Longbourn Academy become obsessed with the prom. Lizzie Bennet, who attends Longbourn on a scholarship, isn’t interested in designer dresses and expensive shoes, but her best friend, Jane, might be — especially now that Charles Bingley is back from a semester in London.

Lizzie is happy about her friend’s burgeoning romance but less than impressed by Charles’s friend, Will Darcy, who’s snobby and pretentious. Darcy doesn’t seem to like Lizzie either, but she assumes it’s because her family doesn’t have money. Clearly, Will Darcy is a pompous jerk — so why does Lizzie find herself drawn to him anyway?

Will Lizzie’s pride and Will’s prejudice keep them apart? Or are they a prom couple in the making?

MY THOUGHTS:

How can you describe a book that you loved from beginning to end? How can I find the right words to even describe how much in love I am with this book?  Yes, this book has found a happy home on my favorites shelf and I have already recommended it to a few of my friends and family. 

I absolutely loved the characters in this book!  Darcy came off a little snobby at first, but once you read more about him you fall head over heels in love with him!  Lizzie was a great character as well that made you empathize with her and cheering for her throughout the entire story!  Jane was a great best friend that stood by Lizzie when she needed it and Lizzie made sure to be there for her as well.  Charles was the perfect compliment to Jane and I was also cheering for that couple as well.

The ending was great and was perfect for Lizzie.  This is what I wanted to happen at the end so she could shove it down the throats of all those snobby and wealthy brats she went to school with! I loved, loved, loved this book! Did I mention that I love this book?

If you are looking for a cute, yet predictable at times, teen love story with a spin on the classic story, then this is the book you need to pick up!  Don’t pass it by in the stores!  As soon as your eyes make contact with this gorgeous cover, pick it up and head for the register! Then be prepared to be swept away in a fun and great story that will keep you hooked until the end!

MY RATING:

Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading! 5 STARS

ENTICE
Need Series Book #3
Author: Carrie Jones
Source: Bloomsbury
*I received this book free of 
charge in exchange for an honest review*

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 272 pages
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books (December 14, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1599905531
ISBN-13: 978-1599905532

SUMMARY:

Zara and Nick are soul mates, meant to be together forever. But that’s not quite how things have worked out. For starters, well, Nick is dead. Supposedly, he’s been taken to a mythic place for warriors known as Valhalla, so Zara and her friends might be able to get him back. But it’s taking time, and meanwhile a group of evil pixies is devastating Bedford, with more teens going missing every day. An all-out war seems imminent, and the good guys need all the warriors they can find. But how to get to Valhalla? And even if Zara and her friends discover the way, there’s that other small problem: Zara’s been pixie kissed. When she finds Nick, will he even want to go with her? Especially since she hasn’t turned into just any pixie. . . She’s Astley’s queen.

MY THOUGHTS:

Wow. Oh,my! You don’t know how hard it is for me to put into words my thoughts on this book!  I admit that I am not a big fan of the whole pixies and fairy theme in books.  I was hesitant on even signing up for this tour for that fact alone.  Yet, the summary intrigued me.  I just had to read this book because I have heard so many positive things about this series and author.  Granted, I should have started this series from book one, but instead I jumped in and started with book three. I regret not reading the first two now, because I am addicted to this series now. I have already ordered my copies of the first two books just so I can have my Need fix!

Without going into too many spoilers, this book had suspense, intrigue, romance, paranormal, myth and conflict all rolled into a nicely bound book! Now, I need to find the time to start this series from the beginning so I can truly enjoy this book again for a second time! If you are fan of the series, you will be captivated by this installment of the story!

MY RATING:

Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading! 5 STARS

BEG ME
Author: Shiloh Walker
Source: Personal Purchase

Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 182 KB
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Shiloh Walker, Inc; 1 edition (November 19, 2010)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
Language: English
ASIN: B004D4YL3Q

SUMMARY:

Warning: This book involves light bondage play, rape fantasy & role-playing. The acts between the hero & heroine are consensual, but they may not be ideal for all readers.

Beg me…there had been a time when those words made her burn with desire. But now, there was only fear.

Once, Tania Sinclair’s life was almost perfect…oh, it had its ups and downs but she was happily married to a guy that adored her, one who had no problem indulging every kinky fantasy she ever had. But a couple of tragedies later, she’s barely holding it together. A car accident took away her husband, and an attack from somebody she should have been able to trust has shaken not only her confidence, but it’s also stripped away her fantasies and even made it painful to look back on her memories of her husband without fear.

Two years after her attack, Tania is determined to take her life back and the first step is taking back herself…her fantasies, her dreams, her memories. There’s only one person she can trust to do it, too. One person she wants enough…Drake Bennett, her husband’s best friend.

Falling for your best friend’s wife—never smart. Drake’s watched Tania quietly for years, watched her…wanted her, knowing he’d never have her. First, she was taken. And then, that night two years ago—a night that still scars her, a night that’s left bruises on her that still haven’t healed. He does what he can, though, because he loves her too much not to. He’s her friend, there when she needs him.

And now she needs him. She’s asked him for a favor…one that just about blows his mind… 

MY THOUGHTS:

When I first read a review about this book over at Smexy Books, I was intrigued on how an author was going to write about such a touchy subject.  Most authors won’t even cross into the “rape” fantasies because they are considered taboo.  Luckily, one of my favorite authors was willing to not only write about it, but blow my expectations out of the water!

Almost every erotic book I have read includes some sort of fantasy or role play during the sex act.  What I found interesting in this book is the fantasy of being raped but in a consenting and pleasurable role play.  Most people would shy away from this, myself included.  The way the author portrays it in the book though, it is focused more on the aftermath than the actual rape itself.  Yes, Tania loved playing out these fantasies with her loving and devoted husband, but that changed once someone takes the control away and forces himself on her after her husband dies in an accident.  When Tania decides to take back her life though, she turns to the one person she trusts the most.  She asks her husbands best friend Drake to help her work through it.  

Ah, Drake.  He has got to be one of my favorite Hero’s in a story.  He has the sex appeal, the caring and understanding mind, the ability to express his thoughts instead of holding them, and a Superman tattoo to seal the deal!  Drake has always had a thing for Tania.  He is willing to help her take back her life, but in the process he falls even deeper in love with her.  A true Hero that not only saves the girl, but captures her heart at the same time. *sigh*


While I agree that this book is not for everyone, if you do decide to venture out and expand your reading base of erotic romance, then this one will be the one.  I am glad I gave it a chance and I fell in love with Drake and Tania.  The story was hot, steamy and sexy with just the right amount of suspense, heartbreak and angst that kept it balanced.  Plus, Drake can be my Superman anytime!


MY RATING:

Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading! 5 STARS

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca; Original edition (October 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402242018
• ISBN-13: 978-1402242014

Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading! 5 STARS