Amaretto Flame

Jun 20, 2011 Ashley rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, blogged-books, legendary

When you pick up a book, you want to feel connected to it. You want to be absorbed in it. That is exactly how I felt while reading Amaretto Flame. Sammie Spencer does a wonderful job of creating this unique cast of characters. And by the time I was done reading this book I was crying my eyes out...
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You know you've struck gold when you finish a book and you are crying your eyes out! =D
I loved every minute of reading Amaretto Flame. Olivia reminded me of myself in so many ways, it was so eas...more When you pick up a book, you want to feel connected to it. You want to be absorbed in it. That is exactly how I felt while reading Amaretto Flame. Sammie Spencer does a wonderful job of creating this unique cast of characters. And by the time I was done reading this book I was crying my eyes out...
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You know you've struck gold when you finish a book and you are crying your eyes out! =D
I loved every minute of reading Amaretto Flame. Olivia reminded me of myself in so many ways, it was so easy to connect with her. Her undying loyalty to her family and friends and her strong personality made for a very likable and well developed character. Although a few times during the book I wanted to slap some sense in to her. LOL.
As for the amazingly sexy Jackson??? Can we say RAWR!!! *Sigh....Oh yea. Too Scoops please! ;-D The chemistry between the two of them made a habanero look like a red hot.
As for the rest of the cast? Each one had their particular moment to shine.
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Seriously though, this book was very well crafted and well written and there was a bit of a twist that I didn't expect. But it really made the story. Here's my quick summary:
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Olivia has been punished and forced into seclusion by one of the only people she's ever trusted. After being sent away to a human town, Liv-vy's stubbornness starts to surface and she takes a job at a local bar. Here she starts to let her guard down a bit, befriends some of her co-workers, and even starts to ignite a romance. But when the Venator attacks one of her coven family members, all bets are off. She must now fight to defend herself, her friends and her coven, while trying to discover what or who the Venator are after.
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My favorite scenes? Definitely the poker scene in the bar. And the ending of course!!!
I very much hope there is a sequel, because I would love to read more about The Eagleton Coven.
Fantastic Job Sammie.
(and just so you know, I was drinking my coffee with my Amaretto flavored creamer when I finished this book.)(less)

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Jul 02, 2011 Amy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

Olivia Landry always knew she was different. And she most certainly is... Rescued from her heartbreaking childhood, Olivia is taken in and raised by the Eagleton Coven; A coven that houses and protects others that possess magical powers/abilities from the evil witch hunters that want to eliminate her kind; The Venators. Being the strong, independent yet rebellious 19 year old that she is, makes a mistake and finds herself banished from the safety of her family and is forced to survive in a sort...more

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May 31, 2011 Faye rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal, witches

Amaretto Flame is WICKED!! “a read-in-one-sitting-I-can’t-look-away-oh-crap-it’s-1am-I-need- to-sleep-but-can’t-yet-it’s-too-good novel." Seriously it was awesome.

I haven’t read a good witchy book in a while (since Harry Potter).

I loved the characters for one, Olivia Landry (the protag) a hero with a heart of gold. She is so selfless, she would do anything for her coven and new friends; if their lives were at stake she wouldn’t think twice about cutting off her legs and arms for them if it came...more Amaretto Flame is WICKED!! “a read-in-one-sitting-I-can’t-look-away-oh-crap-it’s-1am-I-need- to-sleep-but-can’t-yet-it’s-too-good novel." Seriously it was awesome.

I haven’t read a good witchy book in a while (since Harry Potter).

I loved the characters for one, Olivia Landry (the protag) a hero with a heart of gold. She is so selfless, she would do anything for her coven and new friends; if their lives were at stake she wouldn’t think twice about cutting off her legs and arms for them if it came right down to it. Not only that, but if you knew what she could do, you would not want to get on her bad side. She’s pretty kick ass. I wish I could mention all of the characters because they are so unbelievably well written and I love them. So I’ll talk about Everett who is kind and charming, a little on the quiet side, he leaves things left unsaid when it comes to his true feeling for Olivia. I hope maybe it will blossom. But even if it doesn’t Livvy has a good guy on her hands and that is Jackson. The amaretto colored eyes, guitar playing hottie. I have to mention this line he said to Livvy:”I know you love pancakes. I know King Arthur stories are your favorite, and that you think James Dean was the most gorgeous man to ever live.” Seriously swoon-worthy, I wish I had a guy who pays attention to the little things.

The plot and setting was so epic, there’s a war going on between Venator and the Wise ones. It’s kind of sad to say but I think trouble follows Livvy wherever she goes. I really enjoyed getting lost in the world Spencer created. There just wasn't enough! I could breathe, eat, and sleep this novel. There’s steamy romance in this one, maybe a potential love triangle. Both guys have their awesome qualities that make them a good match for Livvy. It’s was hard to decide who I prefer but we’ll see.

Amaretto Flame is a breathtaking story, filled with magnificent characters and a charming romance!! I can’t wait to read more about Livvy and her adventures and watch her face the “big evil” alongside her coven and of course I’d like to see a little bit more Jackson! YAY for Amaretto Flame (Shadow Wishes)!(less)

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Jul 05, 2011 Erin Danzer rated it 5 of 5 stars

Sammie Spencer makes me want to work in a bar... though only if I can have my own Jackson Vance. Wow. The imagery, the words, the action; it all flows seamlessly until you lose hours of time but gain so much more by reading this book. The characters are instant friends, so believable they might as well walk off the page. Jenny made me laugh, Erika reminded me of myself, Jackson was knock-your-socks-off charming and delicious. Mmm, I'll never think of Amaretto the same again. :)

Beautifully writte...more

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May 19, 2011 Rhiannon Paille rated it 4 of 5 stars

he Goods: This isn't your usual indie book that pushes the limits simply to get noticed. You've read those ones before, they include some scary torture scene or some inappropriate sex scene. This is an NA book, New Adult, and I say that because Olivia is 19 and she's self actualizing, exploring a bit of a new world, and falling in love for the first time. The nice thing is that there's no school. There's a bar, a hot boy, a mean girl, and some wimpy girls! I'd put this book pretty close in the r...more

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Mar 14, 2012 Marie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal, not-the-same-old-story

CLICK TO READ MORE AWESOME REVIEWS IN YA, PARANORMAL, & CHILDREN'S LIT.
AMARETTO FLAME was a pleasant surprise. One of my favorite author’s loved it, so I thought I’d give it a try and I am so glad I did!

This novel doesn’t fit squarely into the YA genre, because the heroine is older–nearly 20 years old. But she still has some of the lingering situations of childhood, such as, she is in ‘school.’ Olivia gets tossed out of school (her coven) and starts working at a bar. Since this novel straddl...more

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Jul 21, 2011 BookHookup rated it 5 of 5 stars

Olivia Landry always knew she was different. And she most certainly is… Rescued from her heartbreaking childhood, Olivia is taken in and raised by the Eagleton Coven; A coven that houses and protects others that possess magical powers/abilities from the evil witch hunters that want to eliminate her kind; The Venators. Being the strong, independent yet rebellious 19 year old that she is, makes a mistake and finds herself banished from the safety of her family and is forced to survive in a sort of...more

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Jun 12, 2011 CorLostForWords rated it 4 of 5 stars

Source: Received from author courtesy of the Teen Book Scene blog tour for Amaretto Flame. Many thanks goes to Sammie Spencer and Teen Book Scene for sending me a copy of this book for review. I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review.

My rating: 4.5/5

Olivia has a rare power unlike the powers those in her family or coven have been gifted with. Her scream kills, literally. She makes a mistake and, as punishment, she is sent to live in a safe house in a human town. She n...more Source: Received from author courtesy of the Teen Book Scene blog tour for Amaretto Flame. Many thanks goes to Sammie Spencer and Teen Book Scene for sending me a copy of this book for review. I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review.

My rating: 4.5/5

Olivia has a rare power unlike the powers those in her family or coven have been gifted with. Her scream kills, literally. She makes a mistake and, as punishment, she is sent to live in a safe house in a human town. She needs to acclimate to those around her, and in the process makes new friends, and gains a job. When the danger that is ever present threatens to destroy the life she has made for herself in her new town, she is haunted. Her newfound friends and the ever luscious Jackson will be in harms way, and she will have to keep them safe without letting them know just what she can do.
Olivia is ridiculously awesome. She's tough, caring, looks out for her family and her newfound friends. She is going to make a strong high priestess if she's allowed to go back to Eagleton. She is such a well-drawn character, and her emotions jump out at you, instantly forming a connection with the reader, making the reader sympathetic to her cause. It's been a while since I've read such a promising book, one with fully engaging characters, and a well-established plot; and one that easily draws the reader in from page one and keeps them hooked the entire time. Olivia is an excellent protagonist, and is so strong.
Jackson plays the elusive and mysterious guitarist at the bar where Olivia ends up working. The attraction is instant, both between Jackson and Olivia, and Jackson and the reader. He has this drive, and sexy, smoky personality that will have readers swooning. I loved how he and Olivia interacted, and how things evolved between them.
The world of magic and witches comes together easily in this book, and Amaretto Flame is such a refreshing read. I inhaled it, and finished it in a few short hours. My only complaint is that I want more, and I want it now. There is definitely more to be explored, and I hope that Spencer continues creating stories within this world. It's honestly one of the most refreshing reads that I have read in a long time, and I absolutely loved it.
All in all, a fantastic and imaginative read. One that couples magic and romance with the ever present danger lurking from the Venators. I'd definitely recommend this one to fans looking for a good, witchy read. Spencer has a new fan here, and I'll be waiting with bated breath for her next book. I can only hope we'll see Olivia and Jackson again.(less)

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Jun 08, 2011 Rachel Harris rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorite-love-interest-hotties

The name grabbed me first. Then the blazing cover. But when I actually started reading AMARETTO FLAME, it was the three-dimensional, superbly-written characters like Olivia, Everett, and Jenny that kept me turning the pages. And when Jackson Vance walked onto the page, it was all over.

AMARETTO FLAME is Sammie Spencer’s debut novel and thank goodness it is part of the Eagleton Coven series. I honestly did not want this story to end. The fast-paced plot, action scenes, and hot romance kept me turn...more

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May 10, 2011 Rhiannon Ryder rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It's been ages since I've read a good witch book. Sounds weird right? But what's the last witch book you can think of, other than Harry Potter or Anne Rice's Mayfair Witches series? (Don't get me wrong, Anne Rice's Mayfair witch books are not up there in my league of good witch books, only one of the few books I can think of about witches.)

Sammie Spencer has corrected the situation, she's gifted YA readers with her Eagleton Coven, Amaretto Flame ebook.

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Olivia has spent he...more It's been ages since I've read a good witch book. Sounds weird right? But what's the last witch book you can think of, other than Harry Potter or Anne Rice's Mayfair Witches series? (Don't get me wrong, Anne Rice's Mayfair witch books are not up there in my league of good witch books, only one of the few books I can think of about witches.)

Sammie Spencer has corrected the situation, she's gifted YA readers with her Eagleton Coven, Amaretto Flame ebook.

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Olivia has spent her life learning about her enemies, the deadly Venator - including how to kill them. What she knows nothing about is whiskey, playing poker, or rugged, copper-haired musicians. As punishment for a small 'crime,' Olivia is sent to a safe house in a human town and forced to live as one of them for a summer. There, she meets the charming Jackson Vance, and her real education begins. She soon discovers that she's being hunted, and figuring out why means she uncovers a secret that threatens to end everything she's ever fought for.

I have to say I agree with Rick Riordan, the realm of ebooks have brought on a tidal wave of books badly in need of an editor. In fact, after reading several of them in the past couple of years I think I have come to appreciate the job editors do far more than I ever would have without being an author myself. Without a doubt I had almost given up, until Amaretto Flame landed in my lap.

Fast paced, full of intriguing mysteries and equally intriguing characters, Sammie Spencer had me flipping through pages at an alarming rate. I loved her Venator twist to the witch genre, and especially when she begins to delve into who they are and how they developed. And not a typo, nonsensical paragraph or mysterious plot hole to be found! But more than anything I loved Olivia.

Very powerful, but very screwed up, Olivia is sort of like the female Edward. In fact Amaretto Flame had a lot of similarities to Twilight (more so Midnight Sun if it was finished). Small town, oddly matched love story, big trouble looming and best of all an unpretentious main character. At 2.99$ for the Kindle upload you cannot go wrong. A great read that I've already talked other friends into reading, all I can do now is cross my fingers and hope Sammie Spencer has more on the way!
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Jun 17, 2011 Melissa rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I absolutely loved this! I really fell in love with Olivia and Jackson, Everett and the rest of the cast of characters and I thought the ending was beautiful!!

Great stuff! I even shed a tear ;)

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Apr 13, 2011 Kristen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: magical, romance, witches

GENRE: YA Paranormal Romance
THEME: Witches/ Magic
RECEIVED: Copy from Author
BLOG: http://seeingnight.blogspot.com/
DATE POSTED ON BLOG: April 13th

REVIEW:
You know when you finish a book and your smiling and just feel that sensation of awe; well that’s what happened to me when I finished reading Amaretto Flame by Sammie Spencer.
Olivia Landry is a 19-year-old girl who lives a certain life that is hidden from humans. She is apart of a coven that protects others who have magic abilities like herself...more GENRE: YA Paranormal Romance
THEME: Witches/ Magic
RECEIVED: Copy from Author
BLOG: http://seeingnight.blogspot.com/
DATE POSTED ON BLOG: April 13th

REVIEW:
You know when you finish a book and your smiling and just feel that sensation of awe; well that’s what happened to me when I finished reading Amaretto Flame by Sammie Spencer.
Olivia Landry is a 19-year-old girl who lives a certain life that is hidden from humans. She is apart of a coven that protects others who have magic abilities like herself from the harm of Venators. Olivia’s gift is unique; she holds a great power that can destroy the Venators easily with just one scream. After an incident while she and her brother Everett seek out a young boy, with a gift of controlling fire, doesn’t go as planned, she is sent a town far from her Coven.
Olivia has never experience being around people who aren’t like her; she is saddened and feels betrayed by her Coven Priestess who sent her away. But after meeting two human girls who needed some self-defense advice and accepting a job at a bar in her new town, she starts to accept her new home away from home. At her new job she meets the very intriguing and attractive Jackson, whose Amaretto color eyes put her in a trance.
With the danger of Venators coming after her family back at home and also threatening her new friends, Olivia will use her gift to fight back no matter the cost. I do wish there was a bit more information on the Venators, so I’m hoping for a sequel.
The characters were so well written, I love when you can feel the emotions through the writing and Sammie really did a fantastic job. Olivia is the one character who changes a lot through out the book having to life apart from her coven. I love her relationship with the friends she meets in her new town, Erika and Jenny, it gives her a new perspective on humans.
The magic in this book was brilliant, I loved how each person’s powers characterized who they are and brought so much to the plot and moved the story along nicely.
Now for the romance, I’m a softy for some great romance. Jackson was my favorite character because his personality was so much fun and mysterious. His relationship with Olivia was the center of the whole book and brought to life such wonderful chemistry.
This is a must read, for anyone who enjoys Paranormal Romance. There were a bit of spelling errors that I caught, but it’s just something that I noticed. Otherwise if you’re looking for something that doesn’t have the same old vampires and werewolves story and want to spice up your reading, then read Amaretto Flame!

RECOMMENDATION:
This is an Adult novel, but can really be for anyone. Recommended to fans of Michelle Rowen and P.C. Cast.

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Apr 02, 2011 Trisha Wolfe rated it 5 of 5 stars

I honestly don’t know if I’m going to do this story any justice. It’s rare when I read something that touches me on such a deep level, but I’m going to try. Olivia is my kinda girl. She’s tough, stubborn, strong, guarded, yet at the same time, extremely vulnerable. I connected to her right away. There’s no spoilers in my reviews, so I’ll only tell you that’s she’s not had the easiest life, and she's crazy powerful. And now, finally secure in her world around her, she feels betrayed as the woman...more I honestly don’t know if I’m going to do this story any justice. It’s rare when I read something that touches me on such a deep level, but I’m going to try. Olivia is my kinda girl. She’s tough, stubborn, strong, guarded, yet at the same time, extremely vulnerable. I connected to her right away. There’s no spoilers in my reviews, so I’ll only tell you that’s she’s not had the easiest life, and she's crazy powerful. And now, finally secure in her world around her, she feels betrayed as the woman who she thinks of as a mother/sister has banished her from the only home she's ever known. Oh a whim, Olivia decides to take a job severing at a bar in her new town. Never truly allowing herself to open up to humans, Olivia finds herself curious about them, and at the same time, befriending a couple of coworkers. I love the personalities of the two girls, especially Jenny. She was a fun character, but at the same time showed real depth. I just loved her. When she meets Jackson, sparks fly. The chemistry between them is downright hot. But it’s deeper than just a physical attraction, there’s something about him… Something that balances Olivia. (And I just can't help myself when it comes to those bad boys ;) As the story progresses, the Venator become a major threat and Olivia has to figure out what they are after, or who, and how to stop them. There was some fantastic fight scenes in this book. I love action-packed scenes, and Spencer did an amazing job. I have to admit, I was torn for a while when I saw a love triangle developing later on in the story. And I felt bad for one of the characters, Everette. I thought he truly would have made a great match for Olivia, but I’m sticking to my first choice. I’m Team Jackson! Spencer's writing is clear, descriptive, and beautiful. She balances both drama and comic, light-hearted relief, with passion and fire. I couldn’t tear myself away! I recommend Amaretto Flame to lovers of Paranormal Romance and anyone who just wants something refreshing in the YA market!(less)

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Jun 05, 2011 ABookVacation rated it 4 of 5 stars

What I like the most about this novel is that it sits apart from traditional witch stories. All the witches have special powers—they don’t chant and read out of books to cast spells, but rather have different individual powers, a high priestess, and are in constant battle with the evil group of Venators, who are set on destroying all covens. I really enjoyed the different special powers the witches possess. For instance, Olivia can terminate anything living by directing a scream at it/them, whic...more

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Apr 07, 2011 Debbie (at) I Heart YA Books rated it 5 of 5 stars

I started reading Amaretto Flame at 8:00 p.m. last night, and the next thing I knew it was 2:00 A.M., You know a book is good when you lose track of time. I really loved the charters in Sammie Spencer’s book. Let’s start with Olivia. She’s strong-willed and a little rebellious, and she’ll do whatever it takes to protect her family. That's probably why I love her so much—that and she can kick some major butt. Then there’s Jackson, the gorgeous musician that all girls want, but can’t have. Jackson...more

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Jan 07, 2012 Sarah Grace James-Miller rated it 4 of 5 stars

(For the whole review check it out here --- http://sarah-gracereviews.blogspot.co... and for other reviews)

This book screamed loyalty the whole time I was reading this. Olivia was seriously committed to her family, and I loved that. In most books, the main character is usually just concerned about themselves and their love interest's future. Olivia actually thought about her actions and considered if those actions would endanger her "family".

Olivia and her family (more of like an adoptive one)...more

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Apr 19, 2011 Kayleigh {K-Books} rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: EVERYONE

Oh. My. God
Those are the words that come to mind when i think of this book. I cannot praise it enough it was just amazing. If i could give this book more than 5 stars i would. I would give it 100 stars because it was just incredible and i loved every moment of it.
The story follows Olivia, a good witch whose coven is in the middle of a war with the bad witches, Venator. Olivia finds herself outcast from the rest of her coven as she is forced to live among humans. While doing this she meets Jackso...more

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May 25, 2011 Dennis Sharpe rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Anyone who like Paranormal Romance

Shelves: urban-fantasy, paranormal-romance, paranormal, 1st-in-series

Where do I even begin? Have you ever finished a book and been really pleased with the story, but wanting to immediately read more of those characters and that world? Yeah. It’s like that.

Olivia, the main character of this book, is part of a coven that defends against the evil Venators. Sounds a little cheesy, right? I honestly laughed at this when I read the book description. I’m not ashamed to admit when I’m wrong. I was very, very wrong.

Olivia is sharp, cunning, and deeply emotional. Her life...more Where do I even begin? Have you ever finished a book and been really pleased with the story, but wanting to immediately read more of those characters and that world? Yeah. It’s like that.

Olivia, the main character of this book, is part of a coven that defends against the evil Venators. Sounds a little cheesy, right? I honestly laughed at this when I read the book description. I’m not ashamed to admit when I’m wrong. I was very, very wrong.

Olivia is sharp, cunning, and deeply emotional. Her life is a wild one, and has left her a little worse for wear, but her soul shows through in so many ways. Not only does she have this massive power within her, she is also delicately feminine.From the second paragraph of this book I was drawn into her as a character. Her voice in this story has a beautiful truth to it even if the story is one of fantasy.

Due to circumstances in her life, Olivia is (like most great characters in fiction) at a kind of crossroads in her life. She’s chosen to go in a direction that is away from what has been her “norm”. She goes to live with regular people, something she knows nothing about.

There is romance of course, in the form of bad-boy Jackson, but I really don’t want to get into that. Girl finds bad-boy, sparks fly, we’ve seen that before. Let’s just say that it’s there, and it’s real. (There’s another guy too, but not really, ya know?) There’s also plenty of fights and action, and truly interesting “bad guys” in this story, and they were handled well. But spoilers are not my thing.

Spencer's writing is both level and almost poetic at times. You can actually feel the scenes as much as you can see them. Well written, is an understatement. I don’t normally do Paranormal Romance. I usually stick to darker stories of the paranormal. This was worth it. There were things about it that I think would be made better by the editing staff of a major publishing house, but Sammie Spencer definitely has the raw talent and brings the goods to the table in this offering.

I recommend Amaretto Flame to anyone who’d looking for a good paranormal story, and a romance that’s not just like everything else in the marketplace.
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Oct 18, 2011 Reading, Eating & Dreaming rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 4-stars, 3-stars

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS AT READING, EATING AND DREAMING I WAS BLAIR WALDORF

I read Amaretto Flame, the first book in the Eagleton Coven series, by Sammie Spencer because one of my goodreads friends has this book highly rated, and we tend to have a lot of the same taste in books (Thanks, Dana!). Available for only $0.99 on Amazon Kindle, I decided to give this book a go. I mean, why not? As it turns out, I am very happy with my decision to read this book. It’s a keeper.

Amaretto Flame is an...more CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS AT READING, EATING AND DREAMING I WAS BLAIR WALDORF

I read Amaretto Flame, the first book in the Eagleton Coven series, by Sammie Spencer because one of my goodreads friends has this book highly rated, and we tend to have a lot of the same taste in books (Thanks, Dana!). Available for only $0.99 on Amazon Kindle, I decided to give this book a go. I mean, why not? As it turns out, I am very happy with my decision to read this book. It’s a keeper.

Amaretto Flame is an exciting new paranormal romance series about witches, their unique powers, and the ultimate battle between good and evil. After reading this book, I really want to be a good witch with super powers! The witches’ special gifts are really cool, and I am officially jealous of fictional characters.

The romance is this novel was perfect. Too many paranormal romance novels have that on the spot-the second the characters meet-I don’t know your name yet but I’d kill for you-I’ll love you until the end of time and I’ll die if you leave me-type of romances, but not in this book. The relationship between Jackson and Olivia develops at a steady pace. Of course they have that instant spark (that is crucial), but their feelings develop over time. They become friends, they flirt with each other, they begin to trust one another, and then it turns into more. That is how I like my romance.

Olivia is a strong and independent protagonist. After she breaks one of the coven’s rules she has to move out of her family home and into one of their safe houses for a couple months as punishment. Surrounded by humans for the first time in a long time, Olivia is scared and alone until she gets a job waitressing. Everything is new, unfamiliar and really hard for her. Olivia doesn’t like to let people in, and once you get into the story it is easy to understand why she is so guarded. She, like many witches, hasn’t had an easy past. On top of that, Olivia has a deadly power. When she is scared or feels threatened she screams and kills everything in front of her.

Jackson. Gorgeous. Plays guitar. Super sweet. Do I even need to say anything else?

The only thing that really frustrated me in this novel was the big showdown. I don’t want to go into detail because it will ruin things, but let me say this: I think Spencer took the easy way out and the big battle was a little disappointing.

However, I still recommend this novel. Amaretto Flame sets up this series wonderfully. It keeps you interested, but it left a lot of room for growth.

I gave Amaretto Flame by Sammie Spencer 4 STARS (3.5 STARS). I strongly recommend this novel to young adults who enjoy paranormal romance.

-XOXO

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May 02, 2011 Melissa rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was an awesome read. From the beginning it draws you in with the “Omg what is going on!” Need to find out feeling. It draws you completely into this story. I love her writing style. You can really tell that Sammie did an astounding job when writing this book. There was nothing I did not like. The Characters, world/setting, The originality, the storyline, everything is well formed and vivid. The emotional dimension that Sammie built was breathtakingly well done. You can feel every little thi...more

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Apr 26, 2011 Brandi Kosiner added it

A good friend recommended this one to me, and our reading and writing preferences match up a lot of the time, and boy was she ever right. Amaretto Flame has a cast of awesome and vivid characters, and a story that drew me in from the start.
The main character Olivia is awesome, she's strong and independent but she still manages that vulnerability around the people that she trusts. I'm able to connect and relate with her on a deep level, and I'm wholly invested in her story and what happened to...more

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May 13, 2011 Kara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: guest-blog, magic, review-sent-to-author, witches, young-adult

Goodreads Summary:

Olivia has spent her life learning about her enemies, the deadly Venator - including how to kill them. What she knows nothing about is whiskey, playing poker, or rugged, copper-haired musicians. As punishment for a small 'crime,' Olivia is sent to a safe house in a human town and forced to live as one of them for a summer. There, she meets the charming Jackson Vance, and her real education begins. She soon discovers that she's being hunted, and figuring out why means she uncove...more Goodreads Summary:

Olivia has spent her life learning about her enemies, the deadly Venator - including how to kill them. What she knows nothing about is whiskey, playing poker, or rugged, copper-haired musicians. As punishment for a small 'crime,' Olivia is sent to a safe house in a human town and forced to live as one of them for a summer. There, she meets the charming Jackson Vance, and her real education begins. She soon discovers that she's being hunted, and figuring out why means she uncovers a secret that threatens to end everything she's ever fought for.

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Let's talk about Amaretto Flame. Or rather, let me talk at you. Once again, I have to say I did not have any expectations going into reading this, and if I had any at all, I didn't have a good feeling. And once again, I was wrong. This book isn't perfect, but I enjoyed it more than I can verbally say.

For a switch, I'm going to talk about the things I didn't like first. Imagery. It's not that it was bad, I would say it was about average, but I have a problem with this. One of the hallmarks of a great book (for me anyway) is fantastic imagery. I like being able to picture a scene in my head and I like the author to show me, but not do it all for me. The small issue I had with Amaretto Flame is the lack of descriptive imagery. I'm not saying it was never there, I just wish there had been more of it.

Next, I want to talk about cliches. I know..it's the dreaded word no author wants to hear. Sorry Sammie. I don't want to spoil the ending, so this one is going to be hard to talk about. I'll try my best.

Things wrapped up too nicely for me. I'm not saying that I wanted it to end unhappily, but maybe what I would've done was twist it a little and make a small unhappy thing happen and then have the rest of it end happily. I can't tell you how it ends because I would completely ruin the plot for you. I really want to say more, but I can't. I try not to do spoilers.

Now that that's over I can talk about the awesome things. Self-published novel that totally rocked. The plot and characters were awesome. I loved Olivia. She was this totally kick-ass likable and lovable character, and I really enjoy that. But she was also totally flawed. She didn't believe in herself and her self-esteem wasn't the greatest, but she also was extremely brave and fought for what she believed in. She would be someone I would truly want to be friends with. If she was real.

Jackson was pretty amazing as well. Not as amazing as Olivia, but he was hot and his personality totally worked for me. He had a bad-boy vibe going for him, but he was also a sweetheart. I loved the relationship build between him and Olivia. Paula was the perfect villain and I hated her. I love how Olivia stood up to her. Paula was a pathetic individual. I loved all the other members of the coven as well.

The Venator. First of all, the name kind of bothers me. I'm not sure why, but it does. Even though Venator is Latin for hunter, there's something about the name that I don't like. I wish I could explain more. But as for the Venator as a villain, they were pretty frightening. The author did a good job of capturing the fear that the Eagleton coven had for them. And I have a feeling that they will only get worse. Because I have asked the author and this book is part of a series.

I loved the plot up until the climax. Then it got a little cliche, but it didn't ruin the story for me or anything, because I really enjoyed reading it. When I started to read Amaretto Flame, I had another book going that I wanted to read more, but once I got into Amaretto Flame, I put the other book down because I got hooked and I couldn't stop reading it. It went by really fast. And I truly enjoyed it. It's been awhile since a book I've read has held my interest this well. It was nice to have that happen for a change.

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Jul 05, 2011 Cyna rated it 2 of 5 stars

This book surprised me. By the end of my first reading session, I was prepped for a brain-at-gunpoint read-through. As seems to be the case with most of the indie books we've read so far, the first impressions Amaretto Flame made were bad ones: grammatical errors, awkward phrasing, melodrama, weird pacing, and that goddamned telling reared their ugly heads before I made it to the end of chapter one. But as the story progressed, little by little, the makings of an interesting world began to show...more This book surprised me. By the end of my first reading session, I was prepped for a brain-at-gunpoint read-through. As seems to be the case with most of the indie books we've read so far, the first impressions Amaretto Flame made were bad ones: grammatical errors, awkward phrasing, melodrama, weird pacing, and that goddamned telling reared their ugly heads before I made it to the end of chapter one. But as the story progressed, little by little, the makings of an interesting world began to show through the rough exterior.

Amaretto Flame ended up being interesting despite itself. There are flaws, consistent flaws, most of which would probably be deal-breakers for a lot of readers. The writing is undoubtedly the biggest one - it's often off-putting, a strange patchwork of awkward similes, cliches, bad dialogue ("If you're anything like me, then I hate you almost as much as I hate myself" - who says something like that?), clunky wording (sometimes the thesaurus just over-complicates things), and random moments of fourth-wall breaking. Can I just say that I really dislike that? I find it incredibly cheesy when a character just randomly interrupts their narration to address the audience, and Olivia does it more than once. Distracting.

It doesn't help that we run into crapton of blatant exposition every few paragraphs in the first half of the book, and while I understand the need to fill the reader in on the world and characters, it really needs to be done more naturally here. Olivia's frequent info-drops have a huge hand in making the narration stilted and awkward. Unfortunately, the first chapter, the part that should be getting us hooked, is like 60% stilted exposition, and for me, at least, it was a huge turn-off.

The other...let's say 35% of the first chapter (these numbers are SCIENTIFIC AND FACTUAL) was made up of telling, which was my other huge problem with the book. It literally begins with the words "I was angry." People. LISTEN TO THE ROBOT DEVIL...

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Aug 26, 2012 Mia rated it 2 of 5 stars

When I first saw the summary of this book I was intrigued. Sigh, I really wanted to like this book. I kept reading to the end but reading this book has left me feeling like an empty shell. The writing technique was lacking and the plot development was not done well. The writing style was all over the place. I just feel like that author could have done a better job developing the story. Too many times I was like "What?!", "Really though?!", & "This does not make any kind of sense." That's not...more

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May 23, 2011 H.M. Ward rated it 5 of 5 stars

BEST INDIE BOOK I'VE READ ALL YEAR! Dude, it's one of the best books I've read all year period, Indie or otherwise. Just had to say that too. I got sucked in during the 1st chapter. A chick witch that can kill with her scream was too interesting to put down. The beginning of the story was a slower pace, but once I hit the middle, I couldn't put it down. It had the perfect combo of action and romance. Jackson was awesome. Little twists here and there kept me reading and enhanced the story. btw -...more

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Sep 23, 2011 Tiffany rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was a great book with an interesting plot and twist on the paranormal genre. The main character Olivia has the ability to kill people with her scream. So she is very powerful in her coven and is always used for protection. Until, she gets in trouble and her punishment is to live among the humans. Olivia goes through tons of adventures with the humans and realizes she has been missing out on some important things in life. Also she has to figure out how to keep the coven safe while she is liv...more

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Jun 09, 2011 Lindsay Paige added it

Shelves: reviewed, own

Interest: Synopsis
Title Thoughts: I love it. It's unique and fitting.
Cover Thoughts: I love this cover.
WARNINGS: There are a few cuss words here and there.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I was captured within it's pages very easily and stayed there through out the book. At one point, I had to stop reading to drive and pick up my nephew. I keep thinking, "I wish I could read and drive." It was like I was obsessed...or better yet, addicted. Even now, I keep thinking about the book and the characte...more

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Jan 10, 2012 Stephanie Asbridge rated it 5 of 5 stars

Olivia Landry is a Wise-One, a good witch. She grew up with the only real family she’s ever had, the other members of the Eagleton Coven. Believing she wasn’t worthy, she refused to let anyone get close to her. The closest anyone ever got was her coven brother, Everett. But when Olivia is banished to Staves for breaking a coven rule, she meets Jackson Vance. Jackson, a sexy guitar player with Amaretto colored eyes, manages to find a way into Olivia’s heart, though she denies it. In Amaretto Flam...more

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Nov 23, 2011 Brandi rated it 2 of 5 stars

The title of this book should be changed. I was so incredibly tired of the amaretto references, and the fact that it makes it sounds like this will be a book about some trashy romance, instead of witches fighting evil to save humans. In fact, the amaretto is introduced via Olivia having the drink at a bar, and then the references switch over to Jackson's eyes. It was really annoying to me.

The story has a good premise, but I don't think it was done very well. There was little to no depth in the...more

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Jul 06, 2011 Allie Burke rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wow. Holy... this book was amazing.

Amaretto Flame. Amaretto Eyes. Amaretto Jackson.

Just saying.

Jackson Vance. You guys know me and the whole "I'm in love with fictional characters" thing. Jackson Vance goes to the head of the class. I'm serious. In my imagination this guy sits with Edward Cullen, Gale Hawthorne, Christian Reed... oh, Jackson. I love you.

All the characters in this book. Was there an unlikeable one? (Except Paula of course, but... that's Paula. Ew.) I loved them all. There were...more

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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10892567-amaretto-flame?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1302204580l/10892567.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10892567-amaretto-flame?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Amaretto Flame by Sammie Spencer[/url]

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