Category Archives: 5 Flames

Author: Lydia Dare

Source: ARC received from Sourcebooks

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

WOW!  I thought the first book in this series was great, but this one is even better!  I loved Benjamin! He is the bad boy that all the girls want! He is strong and  very comfortable with his extra abilities of being a wolf.  Then when he loses this ability he is told to go to see a healer.  Elspeth is a strong heroine who balances out the character of Benjamin.  She is a red-haired witch that can give Benjamin a run for his money!  I was rooting for both of them when it was a battle of wills between witches and wolves. 

This author knows how to write paranormal and wolves.  She has the ability to keep you hooked in the story, trying to sniff out the plot ahead of time, and tasting the hunger that each of her characters explore in the sensual scenes.  I can hardly wait to see what happens in the next book in the series!

Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading!

Author: Simone Elkeles

Source: Library

After Caleb is convicted of driving while intoxicated and hit and run involving Maggie, both their lives are turned upside down.  Caleb is now known as the ex-con and Maggie is now known as the freak.  Both return to school with low expectations and guilt.  Caleb tries to pick up where things left off in school before he went to jail.  Maggie is devastated after learning she loses her sports scholarship to Spain since she can’t play tennis anymore.  They both come to terms with the way their lives have changed now and fall in love. 

This book was a great read for me.  I loved the characters of Caleb and Maggie.  Caleb was strong and as you read the book, you realize how protective his character really is.  Maggie faces her disability as I think any teen would. She feels ugly and hurt by it all.  The old lady in the book, Mrs. Reynolds, was a great side character that plays a huge part in the book.  She unites Caleb and Maggie again and makes them both realize that accidents happen.  She makes them realize that your life can take different paths, but still have happiness and build character at the same time. The ending was the only thing I didn’t like. I was looking for a happily ever after ending, which is not to say it doesn’t, but like life, its not the ending you expect.  It sets the readers up for a sequel of this great story.

Overall and amazing read that I wouldn’t mind adding to my keeper shelf. 

Author: Aprilynne Pike

Source: Library

I had heard about this author’s book for some time now and had even seen the beautiful cover around the blogs, but for some reason I kept forgetting to check it out at the library.  Maybe it’s because I have never really gotten on the whole fairy bandwagon before, but I am so glad I hitched a ride this time! There really is only one word that describes this book–Magical!

I loved everything about this book.  It started out with Laurel not even knowing she was a fairy.  She was just trying to fit in at a new school after being home schooled for her whole life.  She was adopted and knew nothing about her real parents. At school she meets a boy that she falls for and becomes really good friends with as well.  She feels like she gets bit on her back out in the woods and over a few days it grows into a large lump. She is thinking she has cancer or a tumor, when finally, it is gone one day. Unfortunately it grows into a flower blossom instead.  The blossom looks like wings, but are actually flower petals. She tries to figure out what is wrong with her while trying to keep the flower petals a secret.  She comes across Tamani, a fairy himself, and starts to figure out what is wrong with her.  

This book had the teen romance, the stren gth of friendship with loyalty, and suspense all rolled into one book.  The writing was great and was kept at a great pace.  I loved how the pieces fell into place and left the reader craving more.  I can’t wait to start the next novel in the series, Spells, which comes out May 4th, 2010.  A great new author for me to keep an eye out on in the young adult book world.

Author: Courtney Summers

Source: Library

I thought my high school years were bad, but this book just reminds me that I could have had it worse!  The author did a wonderful job telling this story!  At the beginning of the book, Regina is at a party with the rest of her friends. They are all the top five kids of the popular ladder at school.  When Regina’s best friend Anna passes out at the party,  Anna’s boyfriend tries to rape Regina.  The only person she tells is Kara, the odd one of the popular group.  Now, when I say odd, I mean psycho!  The next school day, everyone believes that Regina and Donnie had sex instead of it being an attempted rape. Regina must now come to terms of no one believing her and finding herself the least favorite person at school now.

Regina finds a friend in Michael, who was labeled as an outcast by the popular crowd.  She sits with him at the famous table by the garbage cans.  She quickly finds herself becoming friends with Michael, but he is not going to make it easy for her to apologize for all the wrong she has done to him.  Michael ends up being Regina’s saving grace or her chance to redeem herself from being labeled a bitch.  

The romance between the two was so touching and sweet.  Where were the Michael’s when I was in school?  I will say that this book will have your emotions in overdrive at times.  I felt a lot of anger and frustration at the peers that were treating Regina so badly.  It helped me sympathize with her though throughout the story.  When she keys a car, takes a beating and puts her friendship on the line for Michael, you can’t help but feel for Regina in this book even if she was a bitch to begin with.  

Overall, this book was amazing. It was more than what I expected and beyond.  The pace was perfect, the characters were perfect, and the whole book in my opinion was perfect!  I was up most of the night reading and rereading this book because I didn’t want the story to end.  A wonderfully written story focused on teenage years that will have an impact on even the adults! Bravo Ms. Summers for reminding me that it is not who is popular in school, but who is the true friends that will stand by you!

Author: Bree Despain

Source: Library

OH..MY..GOD!  This book definitely lives up to all the great reviews I have read on other blogs.  First of all, look at the cover! It is so simplistic, yet as you read the book, it makes perfect sense.  Of course, purple is my favorite color as well! 

Then when you start to read the book, after drooling at the wonderful cover, you find the writing and the story to be just as beautiful as well.  Grace was strong, Jude was caring yet confusing and Daniel was just….Daniel.  The suspense just about killed me throughout this book.  Just when you think you figure it all out, the author throws you for a loop and leaves you questioning yourself. You start thinking along a different path, and then the author throws you right back to where you started!  The romance is wonderfully written without a lot of sappy teen talk, but it also stays on path without getting steamy.  

Overall, I loved this book!  It was hard to put down and I wanted to read it again as soon as I finished it!  The author has taken a bit bite out of the competition and left her mark on the young adult scene with this book.  All I can hope for is that she will follow up this book with another great sequel! Well done Ms. Despain and keep it coming!