Torched

Feb 11, 2013 Sherwood Smith added it

Read this on the train coming home yesterday. From the beginning, Rose's voice is assured as she talks about the cliches of cheerleaders. She's proud of being smart, has her eye on Harvard after senior year. She's got the perfect boyfriend (a relationship solid as oak ) and the perfect best friend, who has been an alpha girl since middle school. She even has the perfect feud, with her ex-best friend, her next door neighbor, a boy named Paxton: the pranks they pull on each other have understood r...more

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May 25, 2013 Lempicka rated it 2 of 5 stars

Yeah I didn't really liked the book.

First of all, the main character, Rose. She described herself as cheerleader but not the shallow-silly one. After reading the book,I realized that she was wrong. Except for the way her parents treat her, I really couldn't feel sorry for her. She wasn't a likeable character. She wasn't funny, or clever. Or but she could cook, it was mentioned like 8298 times in the book.
Some of her choices were stupid. She though someone framed her and she had an idea who it wa...more

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Oct 10, 2012 Airah ♔ rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: genre_contemporary, romance, suspense, read-in-2012, unexpected-twist

Rose Whitfield, the heroine, is everything a senior girl could ever hope to be -- a smart captain cheerleader who dates a tall, lean and deliciously broody soccer guy, and BFF's with the popular girl who literally owns the school. How cliche can you get?

That is, until the arson stuff happened.

This book is really good! This is like YA version of a chick lit mystery. Not my usual type of book, but it kept me entertained. I'm that easy to please.

I loved guessing about the identity of the real arson...more

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Mar 03, 2013 Megan rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 3-stars, fiction, children-and-young-adult, crime-and-mystery

Framed for arson and abandoned by both her best friend and her boyfriend, Rose sets out to discover who among her high school classmates hates her enough to want to destroy her. It turns out the list is a long one. She may be a popular head cheerleader and valedictorian-hopeful, but Rose has hurt a lot of people, with her history with prank wars and with her rise to success. Torched has her confronting both suspects and her own idea of herself and her past.

I loved Rose's voice as well as the qui...more

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Jan 30, 2013 Jessica rated it 4 of 5 stars

Rose seems to have a perfect life. She has an awesome best friend, a super-hot boyfriend, she's the captain of her cheer squad, and she has her precious car, Cloudmonster. Rose also Paxton, but he's not in the "perfect" part of her life. He's her enemy, and they've been trading pranks back and forth since their friendship ended in 8th grade. But one night, Rose is accused of arson, and she has no idea how it happened to her. No one believes that she's being framed, and suddenly she's left with n...more

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Dec 30, 2012 Clare Davidson rated it 5 of 5 stars

Rose works hard to keep her life perfect-she's a perfect friend, perfect girlfriend and perfect cheer captain. On top of this she regularly comes up with inventive pranks in her ongoing war with neighbour and ex-best friend, Paxton. Thinking she's universally liked by all (except Paxton), she's shocked to discover that someone hates her enough to frame her for arson. Literally overnight, Rose loses almost everything-her best friend, boyfriend and college chances. In order to win it all back, she...more

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Oct 15, 2012 Tracey added it

Shelves: reviewed

Full disclosure: Andrea is a friend, though I wouldn’t review her book here unless I really liked it. Which I did. (Also, if you buy books based on their authors’ personality, you should totally pick this up since she is so sweet and wonderful and all-around lovely.) But this is a review of Torched, not Andrea. I’ll admit, the biggest reason I picked up this book is because the premise hooked me completely. I mean, a cheerleader who’s suspected of arson and needs to solve the mystery? Yes. Yes,...more

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Feb 13, 2013 Heidi rated it 5 of 5 stars

Rose is poised to have a spectacular senior year. She is competing for valedictorian, she is head cheerleader and she is in the running for homecoming queen. Not to mention, she has a wonderful boyfriend who she is definitely in love with, and a got your back best friend. Everything is fantastic.....until the fire. After spending a Friday night home alone, Rose is awakened by the pounding knock of the police at her front door. She is being arrested for arson. Relieved that her parents are safe,...more Rose is poised to have a spectacular senior year. She is competing for valedictorian, she is head cheerleader and she is in the running for homecoming queen. Not to mention, she has a wonderful boyfriend who she is definitely in love with, and a got your back best friend. Everything is fantastic.....until the fire. After spending a Friday night home alone, Rose is awakened by the pounding knock of the police at her front door. She is being arrested for arson. Relieved that her parents are safe, Rose heads to the police station, she is certain this is all a big misunderstanding and her name will be cleared in no time. Unfortunately, there is some damning evidence against her, such as her fingerprints and shirt at the crime scene, photos of her boyfriend kissing another girl and a gas can and matches left by her back door. Rose is being framed, and the worst part is that no one not even her parents believes she is innocent. Rose sets out to clear her name despite all the obstacles in her path. School is a now a nightmare. Everyone is against her, even her best friend and boyfriend. The only one who believes her his her arch enemy, Paxton, with whom she has engaged in a prank war since the eighth grade. Now her enemy is her only ally. Can Rose prove she is innocent?
What I Liked:
*I am always overjoyed and thrilled when I run across a gem of an indie read and I was delighted after finishing Torched. I wavered a bit on my final rating between a four and a five, but decided to nudge it up because this book was so darn entertaining. I picked it up and read it in one sitting, I read until one in the morning to finish! It has been awhile since a book grabbed my attention and kept me reading late into the night. This book entertained me, made me smile and left me feeling good. For all of those reasons I am awarding it a five. Besides, it is always nice when an indie book knocks my socks off!
*I truly admired Rose. In the beginning, I wasn't certain I would like her as she came off to be a bit of a spoiled, popular cheerleader, but happily, I was wrong! She is much more than that. Rose shows great strength and spunk as she works tirelessly to clear her name, even after she is forced into a false confession. Along the way, she is confronted with some hard truths about herself. Perhaps she wasn't as nice as she thought, and maybe she could have treated some people with more kindness. I liked the way she accepts her faults and endeavors to do better. It isn't easy to lose almost everything overnight: friends, popularity, your car, boyfriend and your reputation, but through it all she endures and shows tremendous growth. I always enjoy books where the protagonist undergoes a metamorphosis.
*The romance is awesome! This is another book that features one of those antagonistic romances that I so adore. Rose has been at odds with a certain boy for years. The pair have been cooking up some unbelievable pranks to play against each other for years, and they claim to completely loathe each other. Eventually, things take a turn and it is just so sweet. If you like romances where the couple is at odds for the majority of the book, be sure to get this one. Not to mention, some of the pranks that they pulled off were very creative and funny! I truly wonder where Andrea got her inspiration for all the clever gags.
*Not only does this book have a super sweet romance, but it also has a great mystery. Rose fights tirelessly to clear her name, but as she continues to search for the culprit, she finds that there is a lengthy list of possible suspects. It is certainly hard for Rose to face the fact that she wasn't as nice of a person as she thought, and that there are a lot of people who might have a vendetta against her. I was guessing up until the final pages as to who the perpetrator was, and the reveal was definitely a bit of a surprise.
*Finally, this was a clean, well edited book and I did not find any glaring errors. In all honesty, I was so caught up in the story I was reading at turbo pace to get to the end and find out if there would be a happily ever after for the romance and also discover who really set the fire so I wasn't paying attention like I normally do. This is definitely a book that a publisher should be picking up and distributing. It is worth the read! Don't miss it!
And The Not So Much:
*This book does have a bit of a mean girl theme, and I am not a fan of mean girls. When Rose's former best friend turns against her, things get ugly. Rose becomes the target of mean girls and is bullied. Thankfully, she holds her head high and makes it through, but I hate to see anyone the victim of bullying. There is nothing particularly cruel, but be aware there is some instances of bullying.
*I was disappointed in the relationship between Rose and her parents. Her mother is especially annoying since she is extremely shallow, self absorbed and she does not support her daughter. I was hoping that there would be movement towards improving the relationship between the two, but it doesn't happen. I guess that you can't have everything and I do realize that this is true in real life. I was disgusted with the way Rose's father behaved as well. He refuses to believe Rose and forces her to go against her beliefs because he is unwilling to take the chance of losing Rose's mother who demands a comfortable life, even if it means living beyond their means. The whole situation is troubling, but again, you can't expect everything to be rosy that isn't the way things work in the real world.
*One another point that bothered me was when Rose was repeatedly proposing she was innocent and no one believed her why was she not given the chance to have a lie detector test? It would prove she was innocent, but on the other hand, it would ruin the plot.

Torched was my first surprise five star indie book of 2013. I am thrilled that this little book hooked me and kept me reading well past my bedtime. These days, it takes a lot for a book to thoroughly keep me entertained and this book did that and more. If you are in a bit of a reading rut and you want a intriguing mystery paired with an adorable romance do not hesitate....Get yourself a copy of Torched immediately. I will absolutely be reading the next book by Ms. Colter!

Favorite Quotations:
"It was like I kept trying to lean against a support beam, and was only now discovering it was hollow."
"I'd thought the key to life was being perfect--perfect car, perfect boyfriend, perfect hair and clothes and grades. Then I'd lost most of that list, and you know what? I was still me. Maybe I wasn't perfect, but perfect wasn't everything."

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@ Rainy Day Ramblings.
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Nov 10, 2012 diana rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: my-favorite

I love love love this book- I don't even know where to begin!

I just finished reading Torched like, five minutes ago and I'm still a little bit hungover (if there is such a thing in books, and well I believe there is) from reading it.
I enjoyed Torched too much that I'm afraid I'll just continue on babbling about how much I love it and what I love about it if I don't keep myself in check. Okay, deep breaths *sigh*

I was bored, I sat down and decided to read my newly conquered book.. and who would h...more I love love love this book- I don't even know where to begin!

I just finished reading Torched like, five minutes ago and I'm still a little bit hungover (if there is such a thing in books, and well I believe there is) from reading it.
I enjoyed Torched too much that I'm afraid I'll just continue on babbling about how much I love it and what I love about it if I don't keep myself in check. Okay, deep breaths *sigh*

I was bored, I sat down and decided to read my newly conquered book.. and who would have thought I'd get so hooked I'd stay up all night just to try and finish it [even if it was a school night]? Anyway, Torched was that good. I love every bit of it - the plot, the characters, the humor, the drama, the romance, the mystery and the thrill you get while reading it.
The book presents a unique story line that you just can't help but want to know what's next. I loved Miss Colt's writing style. It was carefree and light and absolutely humorous. There was also some twists (I did guess some of it but that didn't stop me from enjoying the book).
What I love most about the book though is the characters. They all hold so much personality and are all equally interesting. But of course, I hold a special place in my heart for Paxton Callaway. Rose and Paxton's relationship is a total roller coaster ride (it hooks you just like that). Their banters, the verbal insults, the way they relate to each other and the way they can openly say they hated each other's guts - it was just all so sweet and sexy. Oh and did I mention Paxton was smokin' hot, maybe with a capital H?

Torched is also filled with life lessons. It tells us that everything we do affect other people and that sometimes we get too caught up in our perfect little world that we miss seeing the people around us.
I love how Rose finally came to terms with everything in the end and how she changed from being mean to being protective and more understanding of the people around her. She's a tough, stubborn and overly determined character and I adore that about her.
There was character development and I liked that very much.

Torched is one book no one should miss (trust me on this)! :)(less)

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Oct 24, 2012 Candace rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book deserves so much more attention that it has got so far. Seriously, this is one of the best contemporaries I've read this year. Ever, even. It was so, so good!

Rose is a character that hooked me right away. She's super popular, a cheerleader and she had a fantastic voice. She seemed nice and a like a good friend. She's also smart and gets fantastic grades. My first impression of her is that she has a lot of confidence but she's not a mean girl. And Rose definitely doesn't think she's me...more This book deserves so much more attention that it has got so far. Seriously, this is one of the best contemporaries I've read this year. Ever, even. It was so, so good!

Rose is a character that hooked me right away. She's super popular, a cheerleader and she had a fantastic voice. She seemed nice and a like a good friend. She's also smart and gets fantastic grades. My first impression of her is that she has a lot of confidence but she's not a mean girl. And Rose definitely doesn't think she's mean girl. But suddenly she's being woke up in the middle of the night and is arrested for setting fire to her boyfriends family boat. She's obviously been framed but everyone in her life turns against her. Suddenly she's gone from most popular to most picked on. Suddenly she sees how things that she never thought hurt anyone else really did. How she really has far more enemies than she ever dreamed. Rose starts out this journey of finding the one framing her all alone. Even her own parents don't believe her. She loses everything. But Rose doesn't let it break her, she holds her head high and plows through, continuing her cheer-leading and never crying in front of anyone. This show of strength when she was going through so much made me love her even more. I felt for this girl so much. I couldn't believe the wringer she was put through but still held her head high and didn't let anyone see how much she hurt. Rose's strength is the kind of strength I would want to have, but know I never would. I would have never shown my face at school after that and she really didn't let anything stop her from living her life. The whole bullying issue was handled really well in this book as Rose realizes how much she's hurt others without realizing it and how her behavior and example has an impact on others.

Rose does end up with an ally, but it's not someone you'd expect. Well, actually, that's not true- I saw it coming. But me seeing it coming didn't change anything, I liked the book just as much. But the mystery aspect was pretty much a mystery to me. I kept guessing the wrong people but when it came down to figuring it out I was just barely one step ahead of Rose. There's a big twist and in that one twist I figured it all out (after the initial shock). Since it's pretty much right before we find out anyway I guess I wouldn't say it was predictable for me. Maybe those with stronger sleuthing abilities would have figured it out sooner, I'm not sure.

The romance in this book was pretty good. I really don't want to say too much about it though because there are lots of twists and turns and I want you to go in not knowing what to expect. I promise you though, there is romance.

Andrea Lynn Colt is a fantastic writer. I was pulled into the story right away and cruised through the entire book with only setting it down a couple times. I was desperate to keep reading and see what happens. Every character in the book was well done with strong personalities that made them all stand out.

A very strong plot and characters isn't always easy to find in contemporary. It seems like a lot of times I feel it's lacking in one area or another and that's not true for this one, at all. I absolutely recommend you get this book in your hands and not wait one more day to pick it up!

Initially I went back and forth between 4 and 5 stars, but now that it's been a day since I finished I know that it's a 5 star read. I'm still thinking about it and the impact it left.

Sometime soon this review will be posted on my blog at http://www.candacesbookblog.com

Thanks to the author for providing me with a copy for review. All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.(less)

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Jan 25, 2013 Lynn rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: anyone who likes YA

Shelves: favorites

Find my official and long review of this book on the Books Complete Me blog here: http://www.bookscompleteme.com/2013/0...

I loved this book! It has a little bit of a Mean Girls flavor with a lot of character growth, a fast pace, and mystery to boot. The main character Rose has an authentic voice. While she starts the book pretty self centered, her eyes are opened and she begins to see her actions for what they are. Despite her flaws, I still really enjoyed her voice. I love reading about a chara...more

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Sep 19, 2012 Nadia rated it 5 of 5 stars

I EFFING LOVED IT!!! The character growth was EPIC and every time i thought i knew what had happened or was going to happen, Colt kept me turning corner after corner right up until the end!

Rose was a spoiled princess to me in the beginning and i was glad to see her change positively. The only thing that bugged me about her was her inability to keep her mouth SHUT about some pretty big stuff which i thought was really stupid of her considering her circumstances. She ended up blossoming into a cha...more

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Mar 06, 2013 Jen at Reading Lark rated it 4 of 5 stars

Four birdies
Source: author gift

Torched is about a fall from grace and the recovery thereafter. Rose is one of those girls I would have loathed at school... “popular” chief cheerleader, nasty, self-involved, and she doesn’t see that most people are only paying her lip service. She thought everyone loved her. She thought her prank war with Paxton Calloway was cute. She was wrong. She wakes up from her perfect daydream of a life with a thud when one night she is carted off to jail by the police for...more Four birdies
Source: author gift

Torched is about a fall from grace and the recovery thereafter. Rose is one of those girls I would have loathed at school... “popular” chief cheerleader, nasty, self-involved, and she doesn’t see that most people are only paying her lip service. She thought everyone loved her. She thought her prank war with Paxton Calloway was cute. She was wrong. She wakes up from her perfect daydream of a life with a thud when one night she is carted off to jail by the police for an arson attack on her boyfriend’s boat. Rose is clueless, but the evidence is convincing, and no one believes her because she’s been a prankster for years, all the while denying everything. Suddenly every door slams in her face, she is shoved and humiliated at school and she has no idea why she was framed. Rose is determined to get to the bottom of it, and starts her investigation with her prime suspect, Paxton.

Despite the fact that Rose pretty much made me want to slap her at the beginning, I really warmed to her. Her responses to the injustices she suffers are pretty graceful, and she comes out the other side as a more thoughtful person. There were several moments when I appreciated that she took a different road than some teens would have. I enjoyed her efforts to break the cycle of hurt, and use her confidence from cheerleading to keep her chin up when everything seemed to be going wrong.

The mystery element to Torched was also great; I found myself thinking about who the heck could have framed Rose, and why, several times when I wasn’t able to carry on reading – a sure sign of a good book! I also thought I’d cracked it at one point, only to then find myself unsure when I read on. Ultimately, when the perpetrator was revealed and I was pretty surprised. It made sense, but it wasn’t obvious, and I loved that.

There was also a really good slow burning romance through Torched. It built to such a satisfying moment that I was pretty much a puddle of goop at that point! Nothing too adult by way of action or language, but I thought it did skate a little too close to unprotected intercourse before rational thought kicked in for some parents to be comfortable with.

All in all, this was a really satisfying read and I felt I gained from it.
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Nov 30, 2012 Aiiira :) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reads, favorites, e-book, beautiful-cover, fictional-crushes, realistic-fiction, happily-ever-after

“I’d thought the key to life was being perfect--perfect car, perfect boyfriend, perfect hair and clothes and grades. Then I’d lost most of that list, and you know what? I was still me. Maybe I wasn’t perfect, but perfect wasn’t everything.”

Holy fluffin' fudge. (borrowed from the vocabulary of Ms. Hartley Featherstone)

I love, love, looooooove this book. It's likeone of the most amazing book that I've read so far. The protagonist. The characters. The plot. They were all amazing and asdfghjkl;]. Ug...more

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Oct 17, 2012 Amy at bookgoonie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: publisher, ebook, 2012-debut, 2012-read, contemporary, standalone, ya

When I saw that Miranda Kenneally loved this book, I knew I had to give it a try. If you’ve been living in a cave or not reading my blog, Miranda Kenneally is the fabulous author of Catching Jordan and Stealing Parker. *light bulb comes on* Now you see why. And the cover is AWESOME.

Despite Rose’s early appearances of what looks like shallowness and elite-itis, I enjoyed following her voice. When she could have easily crumbled when her life spiraled out of control, she dug in and held her head hi...more

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Feb 25, 2013 Christina (Ensconced in YA) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: author-request

I was asked by the author to read and review this book. Boy, am I glad she sent me a copy! I wholeheartedly give this book a full five stars, no question.

Torched by Andrea Lynn Colt is a YA contemporary novel that I stayed up all night reading (in PDF on the computer no less, which I've NEVER done) because it was so riveting. The book stars Rose, a mean girl in her prime, head cheerleader extraordinaire, who seems to have the perfect life-- the perfect best friend, the perfect boyfriend, the per...more

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Nov 14, 2012 Sarah added it

Shelves: young-adult, mystery, contemporary

TORCHED came onto my radar through word of mouth: a couple of Twitter friends, who are friends of Andrea's, linked to and praised her novel. While I do not often read self-pubbed books, TORCHED hooked me from the sample pages, and I am so glad I picked it up. Once I'd started reading, I could barely put it down.

I really do think that Miranda Kenneally's blurb hits upon most of the main points: TORCHED is a quick, fun read that made me laugh out loud and, yes, blush, a number of times. What it do...more

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Nov 01, 2012 Andrea rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-contemporary-ya, contemporary-young-adult

Torched was a pleasant surprise for me. It's not that I didn't expect to enjoy it, based on the synopsis I had extremely high hopes. But what made the book surprising for me was that I opened it out of curiosity (I was supposed to be reading a different book), planning to read only a few pages, and I could not put it down. I was so engrossed in Rose's story that by the time I looked up, I had read half the book! I had to know who set Rose up, why they did it, how she was going to prove her innoc...more Torched was a pleasant surprise for me. It's not that I didn't expect to enjoy it, based on the synopsis I had extremely high hopes. But what made the book surprising for me was that I opened it out of curiosity (I was supposed to be reading a different book), planning to read only a few pages, and I could not put it down. I was so engrossed in Rose's story that by the time I looked up, I had read half the book! I had to know who set Rose up, why they did it, how she was going to prove her innocence once and for all.

I pride myself on being a super-smarty sleuth when it comes to "whodunits" in books and movies. I credit my talents to being a lifelong watcher of All My Children, may she rest in peace. *sniffs* So naturally, I went into Torched assuming that I would pin the evil doer by the halfway mark. And I did, or so I thought. Wrong. Then, I thought I'd found the true culprit at least five more times. Wrong on every count. Colt did a fantastic job of placing red herrings throughout the story. And I fell for every single one. I think I've gotten so used to having the mystery laid out for me on a platter, that my mystery solving skills have turned to oatmeal. When the truth comes out, I was truly shocked. Well played, Colt.

With a great mystery, I was sure to love Torched. But what makes the story truly stand out is the massive amount of character growth Rose experiences throughout the story. It would have been easy for the author to have let Rose been a completely innocent victim, without any blame or cause for hate. And though Rose is innocent, her past actions, her feud with Paxton, has done damage to those around them. That, and the fact that almost all of Rose's friends turn their backs on her, the same friends she's watched bully others, gives Rose a true wake-up call about her own actions. By going through this horrible experience, Rose gets a chance to reflect on what actions have put her in this position, how carelessly she has treated others, and what she can do to make things right.

Now, what's a serious book review without the boy talk. Torched has two eligible guys, Ryan and Paxton. Ryan is athletic, smart, sweet and romantic. The perfect guy, right? You would think so... But then there's Rose's neighbor, former best friend-turned nemesis, Paxton. Except... maybe there's more to Paxton than Rose is willing to see. Torched isn't a full-on romance, but it does deliver some very sweet, surprising, and happy romantic moments.

With its well-developed, funny, and engaging characters, surprisingly sweet romance, and a mystery that doesn't wrap up until the very end, Torched is a book that delivers the much-loved elements of a great YA story. Author Andrea Colt is an author that I look forward to seeing much more of in the future.

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Mar 18, 2013 Stephanie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-fiction-read, favorites, my-library, mystery-suspense-read, romance, young-adult-read

My Summary: Rose has never lived up to the typical cheerleader cliche: she's not ditzy or mean, and she definitely doesn't throw out guys like last spring's Prada - she's a good girl who loves her boyfriend and does everything she can to make her absentee parents proud.

Until she's framed for an arson - setting fire to her boyfriends family's boat - and has no choice but to sign a confession admitting her guilt. But Rose isn't going to take it lying down. She has a few suspects on her list - the...more

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Nov 05, 2012 ExLibris_Kate rated it 4 of 5 stars

I bought Torched expecting a fun and light contemporary, but what I found was much more than that. Rose is popular, witty and smart. Although flawed, I couldn't help but smile at her quick comebacks and determination to look cute in a cheerleader uniform and make all A's. Although Rose lives in an affluent area, her family is far from perfect and that interaction with her parents is the first indication that perhaps things aren't entirely as happy they seem. After the fire, the tenuous bond that...more

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Feb 06, 2013 Kate rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-challenges, 2013-reads, a-z-challenge, kindle, ya-contemporary

Midnight Thoughts:
~ Normally I get horrible book pitches for my website, authors or publishers who haven't bothered to look through my site and want me to read their mermaid porn sci fi non fiction autobiography, so I was super excited get Colt's email and then realize she actually did know what I like, and that this was a good fit for me to at least try. That said, I still didn't expect it to be this good. But I loved this book!
~ Rose is a cheerleader, which is not usually someone I can identi...more

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Dec 07, 2012 Audrey Wilkerson rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-books-read, books-reviewed

What a difference 24 hours makes. Rose Whitfield can tell you that life can go from blissful to inconceivable in just a few short hours. One day she’s the popular head cheerleader with the sweetest boyfriend and most awesome best friend. The next, she’s been arrested for arson. She didn’t do it, but apparently those that believe her are few and far between. Known for her pranks, no one trusts Rose when she says she didn’t set fire to her own boyfriend’s parents’ boat. Including her boyfriend, un...more What a difference 24 hours makes. Rose Whitfield can tell you that life can go from blissful to inconceivable in just a few short hours. One day she’s the popular head cheerleader with the sweetest boyfriend and most awesome best friend. The next, she’s been arrested for arson. She didn’t do it, but apparently those that believe her are few and far between. Known for her pranks, no one trusts Rose when she says she didn’t set fire to her own boyfriend’s parents’ boat. Including her boyfriend, unfortunately. Then the police show her photos of her boyfriend with a girl from school and say they know Rose was retaliating. Rose knows it can’t be true, that he’s cheating on her; but he won’t return her calls.

Rose has been feuding with Paxton Callaway since he poured juice down her front at a middle school dance. Which was weird and unexpected, since they used to be inseparable friends. Ever since, they have been torturing each other with crazy stunts that sometimes unintentionally have collateral damage. They pretend to tolerate each other since their parents are good friends, but things take a weird turn when Paxton becomes the only person who believes that she didn’t set the fire. And then he offers to help her find the person who framed her. Even though Rose knows he did it.

The quest to prove her innocence leads her to face some truths that are a little uncomfortable. Is her father’s job more important than her innocence? Why does her mother disappear whenever anything unpleasant happens? Why did her boyfriend believe that she had done this heinous crime without even talking to her? Is her best friend a little less awesome and a little more unforgiving than she thought? Are there people at school who have a legitimate gripe with Rose? And what about Paxton? Had they been feuding for so long that he went too far?

Indie writers and self-publishers are many; it’s the good ones that are few. I have read quite a bit of stuff that has not traveled through mainstream publishing, and many times, my time’s been the poorer for it. Though I may be a little more critical of these writings, I certainly don’t go out of my way to find fault because I LOVE A GOOD BOOK. So many stories out there are not, in my opinion, ready to be consumed by the general public but are shoved out the door like parents ready for an empty nest. So, you can understand why I get a little giddy when I read something self-published that is “just as good” as any book put out by HarperCollins or Random House. Andrea Lynn Colt has written a novel that is engrossing, resonant and honest.

This is more than your typical fighters become lovers or misunderstanding = romance. Rose has to face some things about herself that she probably would rather not. The issues that the secondary characters have give a depth to and round out the story that could have just been a shallow tale of a girl’s quest to clear her name with a little making out on the side (not that there's anything wrong with that). When the chips are down, who can you count on? Do you stop and think about how something flippant could feel a lot more serious to someone else? That it doesn’t matter how you meant something, it’s how it’s perceived? There’s a lot of growing up that happens to many of the characters that makes the emotions ring true. And, just like real life, not everyone wants to go there and bare all.

I knew I was hooked when I had to put the book down to work on something else and I kept wondering how soon I was going to be able to get back into the story. I had to know what was going to happen and how it was going to be resolved. And yes, I did have to use a couple (four) tissues. So, kudos to you, Ms. Colt; and here’s hoping your book gets the notice it deserves.

Awesome cover, too.

4 of 5 Stars (Based on Ink and Page’s Rating System)

Genres: Young Adult Fiction Contemporary Romance
Ages: 14 and up
You might want to know: Some mild profanity, sexual discussion, underage drinking

Torched by Andrea Lynn Colt was published September 8, 2012 by Andrea Lynn Colt. A free copy of this book was given to Ink and Page in return for an honest review.(less)

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Oct 24, 2012 Once Upon rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved loved the book Torched. Right from the beginning of the novel I fell in love with the characters and the story line right from the start. I couldn't put it down at all. I would stay up really late at night and look at the clock and notice that I had to go to bed eventually. My husband loves it when I would watch the Debates with him on Fox news. I tried watching it last night but had to get my nook out and dive into more of the book. He was occupied with the debate he didn't even notice...more I loved loved the book Torched. Right from the beginning of the novel I fell in love with the characters and the story line right from the start. I couldn't put it down at all. I would stay up really late at night and look at the clock and notice that I had to go to bed eventually. My husband loves it when I would watch the Debates with him on Fox news. I tried watching it last night but had to get my nook out and dive into more of the book. He was occupied with the debate he didn't even notice that I wasn't even watching.

The story takes place with a popular captain cheerleader that had everything a girl would want. She was popular, beautiful, gorgeous boyfriend and smart. Until one day something changed her whole life in a blink of an eye. She was accused of burning down her boyfriends family yacht and taking pictures of her boyfriend cheating on her. She told the police officers she was home on a Friday night studying and never left. They didn't believe her and was charged with arson. After that day Rose couldn't imagine what her life is going to be like at school. The next day when she went to school she found out what it was like to be picked on and called names. Like she use to do to other classmates in school. Her best friend was even involved with the name calling. She kept telling everybody that she was innocent and nobody would believe her. Not even her parents, boyfriend, or friends. So she decided she was going to find out who framed her. She started talking to a classmate that her best friend was mean to once to see if she would write a list of people that hated her. She thought it was only one person but it turned out being more then what she thought. But the one name that wasn't on that list that kept coming to her was her use to be friend Paxton. In eighth grade he dumped cranberry juice on her dress and that's when all the pranks between them started. They would do any kind of prank to try to hurt each other because they loved it. Even when they hung out because their family was friends they had to put all pranks aside and pretend to be friends. Until one day Rose was crowned homecoming queen and her king was Paxton. She told him she was framed and he said he would help her find out who is framing her. So they put their pranks aside and help each other. But Rose ends up finding out why the pranks started in the first place. She finds out that Paxton has been in love with her this whole time. Since 8th Grade. In the book her and Paxton go through this romance and she feels things that she has never felt before with her ex boyfriend Ryan. I don't want to tell you anymore but in the novel Rose finds out who her real friends are and what being in love feels like.

I would recommend this novel for you to read. I was so ticked off after the book was over with that I wanted to throw my nook because I wanted more of the story and the characters. I loved the characters of Rose and Paxton. Reminds me of my husband and I. I know what it feels like to fall in love for the first time. With those wonderful butterfly feelings. Its a feeling that is so new to you and you want to keep it forever. So if you get a chance to read this book don't walk to the store. RUN...(less)

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Jan 31, 2013 Christina Huber rated it 3 of 5 stars

Originally published at: http://writerbewildered.blogspot.com/...

For fun, I decided to participate in Teens Can Write, Too!'s February blog chain. The topic was:
“Choose one self-published book to read, then briefly review it or talk about your experiences reading it.”

I found this topic interesting because, in my experience, I haven't heard much good about self-published books. It's sometimes been said books are self-published because the writing is bad, so self-pubbed authors can't find represen...more

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Aug 29, 2012 Lindsay Smith rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorite-ya, 2012

Andrea Lynn Colt's TORCHED is a hilarious, smoldering mystery with vivid, three-dimensional characters and an utterly drool-tacular love interest. Colt nails an authentic, witty teenage voice in Rose, who I want to be best friends with, like, yesterday. And the mystery itself keeps you guessing the whole time.

TORCHED is what would happen if Courtney Summers and Stephanie Perkins had sexy arson babies. I can't wait to read Colt's next!

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Nov 14, 2012 meg Olson rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: top

I don't know much about YA fiction, but I know this book was fantastic. The writing was vivid and funny, and I was glad I waited to start it until I had a few days of vacation, because I would have skipped homework to finish it once I started. Rose was a fantastic character- I admired her strength and determination, and I was proud of how she let herself learn some really hard truths about herself and the people she loved. I'm looking forward to more vacation days to read it again, and I can't w...more

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Dec 11, 2012 Farah Jay rated it 4 of 5 stars

I am really glad that Andrea Lynn Colt contacted us regarding this book. I was immediately interested in getting into the story. First of all, I love how the cover is related to the actual story, unlike many other books out there. It's amazing how they got the heart which is because of the romance, and the fire because of the mystery in the book. Anyways, this story does talk about something being torched, or burnt down. The main protagonist, Rose, leads a great life. Part of the popular crowd,...more I am really glad that Andrea Lynn Colt contacted us regarding this book. I was immediately interested in getting into the story. First of all, I love how the cover is related to the actual story, unlike many other books out there. It's amazing how they got the heart which is because of the romance, and the fire because of the mystery in the book. Anyways, this story does talk about something being torched, or burnt down. The main protagonist, Rose, leads a great life. Part of the popular crowd, captain of the cheerleading squad, a perfect boyfriend and top grades. You can probably say that Rose leads a normal life, apart from her famous prank war with Paxton Callaway. Rose and Paxton have been constantly pranking each other since the eighth grade. Despising each other, they always try to find new ways to make the other suffer.
One day, the police wake up Rose in the middle of the night, claiming her guilty of arson. Not knowing anything, Rose is sure someone out there is framing her, Paxton Callaway being her number 1 suspect. It was crazy how well the crime was planned, and Rose had no way to prove that she was innocent, but it was great to see her not willing to give up to clear her name. What's shocking is that when Rose talks to Pax, it turns out he was in the hospital that day with an ankle injury. I don't want to spoil anymore things, but somehow, Rose allowed Paxton to help her find out who framed her. There were many confusing things in the book. Rose's boyfriend Ryan, her best friend Alina, even her parents. I loved how we got to know so many characters. I think the reason why Torched felt so realistic was because for once, there were many characters involved! The parents, the neighbors, the friends, the friends sisters and brothers, it was all so awesome!
One of the other things I loved in Torched, was the character development. Everyone was involved in the book, and you got to hear so many opinions, and so many characters changed during this journey. Rose and Paxton's relationship was so fun to read about! Especially since they were best friends when they were young. Also, the mystery was not disappointing, because it was not predictable (YAY)!!! I never even once predicted who the culprit was, and that's what always makes a mystery book awesome. I really recommend Torched to all young adult readers out there! It's a bit of fun, romance, and mystery! I will keep an eye out for future books by Andrea Lynn Colt.(less)

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Jan 24, 2013 Traci (The Reading Geek) rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed Torched and couldn't put it down! This book is just filled with drama and it's great.

Rose is in her senior year of high school. She is a cheerleader and at the top of her class academically. However, she is then framed for burning down her boyfriends family boat. She is determined to find out who is framing her and she suspects that it's her neighbor Paxton. Rose and Paxton have had a ongoing prank war going on for years.

Rose was a believable teenager. I didn't like her all the...more

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Nov 14, 2012 Caroline rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: cute, favorites, paxton-callaway, young-adult

Oh, it was a fantastic reading! Sweet, beautiful, funny, pleasant (I'm trying not use cute this time), adorable, etc.I loved Paxton *cough cough* and Rose wasn't that bad. [Yay to that!] Oh, yeah! The mistery in this book was awesome. Mostly because was serious but not that serious since it was a ya. I loved the couple and their story, it suits so well in all the plot, I just think it could be more developed in some parts, but I loved it even then. I didn't like her mother. She was really annoyi...more

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Mar 27, 2013 Bethany Farwell rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle

When I first started reading this, I was hesitant. The first few chapters leading up to everything were kind of lull for me. I only say that because no matter how much I want to say I’m not bias, I am. I’ve gotten out of the whole High school phase reading. Occasionally, I don’t mind - which was this case. I thought this book was going to be one of those easy light reads about a girl in high school who gets wronged. BOY was I wrong! Andrea Lynn Colt definitely spun me for a loop in this novel, a...more

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