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Torched
Sparks fly in this romantic young-adult mystery.
Cheerleader Rose Whitfield's senior year goes up in smoke when she's framed for arson. Sure that the culprit is her neighbor Paxton, with whom she's been feuding since middle school, she sets out to clear her name and take Paxton down hard--not necessarily in that order.
Cheerleader Rose Whitfield's senior year goes up in smoke when she's framed for arson. Sure that the culprit is her neighbor Paxton, with whom she's been feuding since middle school, she sets out to clear her name and take Paxton down hard--not necessarily in that order.
370 pages, Paperback
First published September 6, 2012
About the author
Andrea Colt
2 books160 followersAndrea Colt grew up in Maryland, where she loved to read, ride horses, play soccer and squabble with her identical twin. She started writing novels as an extra-curricular passion in college, and after graduating with a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland at College Park (go Terps!), she moved to Alexandria, Virginia. A few years later, she published Torched, and has several more books on the way. She loves wandering around the National Zoo, scarfing cheddar cheese, and hearing from fans.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
April 17, 2019
2013 - Long story short: I loved it!
✓ I loved the awesome main characters for their sense of humour, and their funny pranks and because it was so cute to see how they found their way to each other after so many years.
✓ I loved how Rose kept her head held high and even though she had to admit to something that she didn’t do, and she still tried to find the truth that she hoped would set her free.
✓ I loved how friendships can die and can be reborn, but malice is not forgiven, nor is mistrust. I loved how love can slowly surface and it can make you giggly and all fuzzy inside.
✓ Truth being told I loved EVERYTHING about this book.
Well, no, that’s a tiny bit of a lie, I didn’t like the parents but I wasn’t supposed to like them, so I guess that was the whole point. Sometimes you must realise that you need to do things in life for yourself, not for the others, because they might never understand what you’re giving up for them anyways.
TORCHED is a story that could seem light at first sight, but it holds a lot of meaning underneath. It speaks about friendships and first loves, about hurting people without meaning it, about fighting for what’s important to you, about looking back to all the bad things you’ve done and trying to be a better person in the future. It’s a story about teenagers with their fears and hopes, with their dreams and disappointments; it’s a self-discovery story that unveils, through the mystery, all different layers of Rose’s personality – with the good and the bad, with the mistakes and the ways to make up for them.
It is also a funny ride that made me laugh out loud too many times to count. I loved the batter between Rose and Paxton, and I loved watching them truly come to terms with their feelings after years of making fun of each other in their hate-to-love relationship. Page after page, there’s a lot of awesomeness in this story.
I call it a hidden gem, a book that I wish would get more attention from the YA readers, as it’s one of the best contemporary story I’ve read lately (in fact in a while) and it’s only a debut novel – I can only imagine how great Andrea’s next books could & will be.
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2019 - I've read plenty contemporary YA books over the time and it feels great to come back to this one and still love it ±6 years later. It had the right amount of mystery, angst, romance and it was such a fun ride once again. I'll confess that I didn't remember much from the first time I read it, so it felt in a way like reading it for the first time - and that's a reader's dream, I tell you. Rose is such an easy to like character, her sarcasm made me laugh so much and I simply loved the pranks and the romantic side. I did wish for more (in a I-can't-get-enough-of-it kind of way), I wanted to get lost in this story and not find my way back to reality. I really wish that the author will write more in this genre and I wish some publisher would give this book a chance already, as it's better than most contemporary stories out there.
This review and more at: ReadingAfterMidnight
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Blog (EN) | Facebook | Twitter | Tumblr | Bloglovin' | Blog (RO)
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POST-READING THOUGHTS:
I'm the worst reviewer in the world, as it took me sooo long to read this book (*hides in shame*) and I really couldn't apologize enough for it, but the good thing is that I loved this story to pieces, it was completely my kind of book and I deeply recommend it. Such a fun ride!
✓ I loved the awesome main characters for their sense of humour, and their funny pranks and because it was so cute to see how they found their way to each other after so many years.
✓ I loved how Rose kept her head held high and even though she had to admit to something that she didn’t do, and she still tried to find the truth that she hoped would set her free.
✓ I loved how friendships can die and can be reborn, but malice is not forgiven, nor is mistrust. I loved how love can slowly surface and it can make you giggly and all fuzzy inside.
✓ Truth being told I loved EVERYTHING about this book.
Well, no, that’s a tiny bit of a lie, I didn’t like the parents but I wasn’t supposed to like them, so I guess that was the whole point. Sometimes you must realise that you need to do things in life for yourself, not for the others, because they might never understand what you’re giving up for them anyways.
TORCHED is a story that could seem light at first sight, but it holds a lot of meaning underneath. It speaks about friendships and first loves, about hurting people without meaning it, about fighting for what’s important to you, about looking back to all the bad things you’ve done and trying to be a better person in the future. It’s a story about teenagers with their fears and hopes, with their dreams and disappointments; it’s a self-discovery story that unveils, through the mystery, all different layers of Rose’s personality – with the good and the bad, with the mistakes and the ways to make up for them.
It is also a funny ride that made me laugh out loud too many times to count. I loved the batter between Rose and Paxton, and I loved watching them truly come to terms with their feelings after years of making fun of each other in their hate-to-love relationship. Page after page, there’s a lot of awesomeness in this story.
I call it a hidden gem, a book that I wish would get more attention from the YA readers, as it’s one of the best contemporary story I’ve read lately (in fact in a while) and it’s only a debut novel – I can only imagine how great Andrea’s next books could & will be.
----
2019 - I've read plenty contemporary YA books over the time and it feels great to come back to this one and still love it ±6 years later. It had the right amount of mystery, angst, romance and it was such a fun ride once again. I'll confess that I didn't remember much from the first time I read it, so it felt in a way like reading it for the first time - and that's a reader's dream, I tell you. Rose is such an easy to like character, her sarcasm made me laugh so much and I simply loved the pranks and the romantic side. I did wish for more (in a I-can't-get-enough-of-it kind of way), I wanted to get lost in this story and not find my way back to reality. I really wish that the author will write more in this genre and I wish some publisher would give this book a chance already, as it's better than most contemporary stories out there.
This review and more at: ReadingAfterMidnight
____________________________________________
Blog (EN) | Facebook | Twitter | Tumblr | Bloglovin' | Blog (RO)
____________________________________________
POST-READING THOUGHTS:
I'm the worst reviewer in the world, as it took me sooo long to read this book (*hides in shame*) and I really couldn't apologize enough for it, but the good thing is that I loved this story to pieces, it was completely my kind of book and I deeply recommend it. Such a fun ride!
March 28, 2013
Oh,wow. This book came as a huge surprise! I had no idea it would be so good. Last week, I was looking for books bellow 300 pages I could read, just so I can catch up with my GR reading challenge so I choose Torched because it seemed like a cute book about working with your enemy who would turn out to be a really great guy.
Aww... I love Rose as the main character because she is basically what every main character should be like. She is dealing well with the fact everyone hates her for the fire she didn't set. She doesn't spend hours in her room crying but with the help of Paxton, her hot neighbour goes looking for the real person who did it. They've been pulling pranks on each other since they were kids and I couldn't help but sigh every time these two got into an argument, or talked, or whenever.
Andrea Lynn Colt! You better write something new soon. I need more of your awesome characters and cute plot lines. I will read everything you write.
I wrote this review so I can persuade my friends to pick it up because they won't be wasting their time. Dear friends, please, pleeeasseeee read Torched. It will make me so happy. Everyone needs to read a good fluffy book from time to time.
Aww... I love Rose as the main character because she is basically what every main character should be like. She is dealing well with the fact everyone hates her for the fire she didn't set. She doesn't spend hours in her room crying but with the help of Paxton, her hot neighbour goes looking for the real person who did it. They've been pulling pranks on each other since they were kids and I couldn't help but sigh every time these two got into an argument, or talked, or whenever.
Andrea Lynn Colt! You better write something new soon. I need more of your awesome characters and cute plot lines. I will read everything you write.
I wrote this review so I can persuade my friends to pick it up because they won't be wasting their time. Dear friends, please, pleeeasseeee read Torched. It will make me so happy. Everyone needs to read a good fluffy book from time to time.
February 13, 2013
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.
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.
October 9, 2022
I am surprisingly okay with my decision to finish this book
April 3, 2013
Rose Whitfield is the girl we all knew in high school. A cheerleader, at the top of the food chain with smoking good looks and the hot designer labels to match. You either wanted her, wanted to be her, or loved to hate her. And oh, how people hate her. This comes to light once Rose finds herself in a jail cell framed for arson. She didn't do it, but the social hierarchy doesn't believe her. She uses this doubt as motivation to get her arch nemesis Paxton Callaway to confess to doing it. Help comes in an unlikely form in this explosive whodunnit that leaves you wanting more.
----
I positively adored this book. At first I was a little put off, since the main character Rose is a preppy cheerleader. Personally, I hated that type of girl in high school, and I thought it would disconnect me from the novel. I'm so glad that I was wrong, and that I gave this book a chance.
+Starting with the cover, this book has it going on. I love the design and the teal coloring, since it's my favorite color. It's what drew my attention in.
+Paxton. I. Love. Paxton. He has officially been added to the fictional boyfriend list on my blog. He may pretend to be cool with his quarterback status, but he's a little nerd at heart. I love my boys muscular, funny, and able to quote Spock. I know Rose is the lead, but Paxton was my favorite character within this book.
+The intensity in this book is through the roof. There are so many emotions happening at once that it's like an awful roller coaster ride of feels. I was furious when no one would believe her, heartbroken when her best friend shunned her, giddy and sexually frustrated on her behalf when she feels kisses get a little bit heated. Emotions are hard to perfect, but Torched accomplishes it.
+Honestly, I wasn't sure who did it. Normally, my problem with mysteries is that I catch on rather quickly and then find myself twiddling my thumb for the next 200 pages. Pleasantly enough, that wasn't the case for Torched. I changed my guess about half a dozen times in uncertainty, only to find out that it was one of my first guesses. It drove me crazy, not knowing, and that was my reason for flipping the pages of this novel so quickly.
This book is a sizzling, arson-y five stars. This book is perfectly balanced parts of mystery, romance, and humor. Andrea Lynn Colt tells a great, clean story with vivid imagery and strong, relatable characters (even though they are rich and on the coast and I am poor and in the midwest). I recommend this to YA fans, clean romance fans, mystery fans, and chick lit fans. There is mild language in this book, but it was so light that I don't think anyone would take offense to it. I can't believe that it's Andrea Lynn Colt's book, but I genuinely hope that it isn't the last.
Thank you to Andrea and Rainy Day Ramblings blog for my snazzy signed copy. This review can also be found on my blog, Bitches n Prose.
----
I positively adored this book. At first I was a little put off, since the main character Rose is a preppy cheerleader. Personally, I hated that type of girl in high school, and I thought it would disconnect me from the novel. I'm so glad that I was wrong, and that I gave this book a chance.
+Starting with the cover, this book has it going on. I love the design and the teal coloring, since it's my favorite color. It's what drew my attention in.
+Paxton. I. Love. Paxton. He has officially been added to the fictional boyfriend list on my blog. He may pretend to be cool with his quarterback status, but he's a little nerd at heart. I love my boys muscular, funny, and able to quote Spock. I know Rose is the lead, but Paxton was my favorite character within this book.
+The intensity in this book is through the roof. There are so many emotions happening at once that it's like an awful roller coaster ride of feels. I was furious when no one would believe her, heartbroken when her best friend shunned her, giddy and sexually frustrated on her behalf when she feels kisses get a little bit heated. Emotions are hard to perfect, but Torched accomplishes it.
+Honestly, I wasn't sure who did it. Normally, my problem with mysteries is that I catch on rather quickly and then find myself twiddling my thumb for the next 200 pages. Pleasantly enough, that wasn't the case for Torched. I changed my guess about half a dozen times in uncertainty, only to find out that it was one of my first guesses. It drove me crazy, not knowing, and that was my reason for flipping the pages of this novel so quickly.
This book is a sizzling, arson-y five stars. This book is perfectly balanced parts of mystery, romance, and humor. Andrea Lynn Colt tells a great, clean story with vivid imagery and strong, relatable characters (even though they are rich and on the coast and I am poor and in the midwest). I recommend this to YA fans, clean romance fans, mystery fans, and chick lit fans. There is mild language in this book, but it was so light that I don't think anyone would take offense to it. I can't believe that it's Andrea Lynn Colt's book, but I genuinely hope that it isn't the last.
Thank you to Andrea and Rainy Day Ramblings blog for my snazzy signed copy. This review can also be found on my blog, Bitches n Prose.
February 25, 2013
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 perfect car-- you get the picture. Senior year seems like it is going to be the best ever. The only thing marring its perfection is her prank war with her boyfriend Ryan's best friend, Paxton. Then someone torches Ryan's family boat, and all clues point to Rose. Suddenly, her perfect life isn't so perfect anymore, and she struggles with herself to see the person she has truly become over the past few years as well as to find out who committed the crime and set her up.
I absolutely adored this book. The pacing was terrific, it was well written with a lot of style and wit. As you can tell from above, I devoured it from cover to cover, even though I still didn't have a comfortable reading format, which says a lot about the book. The characters were terrific, and Rose while not a pleasant character has redeemability, which is essential for the plot. Paxton smoulders in the background, and other characters end up delightfully three dimensional-- something I absolutely loved.
Overall, I was incredibly impressed with this first novel of Colt's and I'll be following her career closely from here on out. Everyone should read this book!
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 perfect car-- you get the picture. Senior year seems like it is going to be the best ever. The only thing marring its perfection is her prank war with her boyfriend Ryan's best friend, Paxton. Then someone torches Ryan's family boat, and all clues point to Rose. Suddenly, her perfect life isn't so perfect anymore, and she struggles with herself to see the person she has truly become over the past few years as well as to find out who committed the crime and set her up.
I absolutely adored this book. The pacing was terrific, it was well written with a lot of style and wit. As you can tell from above, I devoured it from cover to cover, even though I still didn't have a comfortable reading format, which says a lot about the book. The characters were terrific, and Rose while not a pleasant character has redeemability, which is essential for the plot. Paxton smoulders in the background, and other characters end up delightfully three dimensional-- something I absolutely loved.
Overall, I was incredibly impressed with this first novel of Colt's and I'll be following her career closely from here on out. Everyone should read this book!
August 12, 2013
I've had my sight on Torched for quite some time now and I finally got to read it this summer! Oh, and I'm so glad I read it! From the adorable cover, to the lesson it gives to its readers, Torched was a great book!
As you can see from the synopsis, Rose Whitfield's live crumbles down after she's framed for burning her boyfriend's boat. Her best friend, the most popular girl in the school, doesn't believe she's unquilty and humiliates her in front of the whole school. Her boyfriend doesn't speak to her, her parents are not exactly supportive and her valedictorian status might be compromised. She blames it all on Paxton, former best friend and geek, current star quarterback and hottie of the school, with whom she has a record of pranks and frauds. But when it turns out he has a solid alibi, they start working together to restore Rose's name.
I loved Rose and the way she evolved from being the popular, overly-confident cheerleader to a strong young-woman. She fit the mean-girl type, but, in her defense, she didn't even realize it until she learned on her own skin how it is to be stripped of your privileges -- isn't karma a pain in the ass? In plain words, she used to be selfish and arrogant.
But what I admired the most about her was the fact that she never gave up to proving her innocence. No matter the obstacles, she found a way to get past the bickering from school and to actually make a point she's not a jealous girlfriend gone crazy. And let's not forget her witty and snarky lines -- she's a hell of a lot fun!
“Hey, I heard there was a Sunshine Bats concert up here a couple weekends ago. The Friday before last, I think. Did you go?”
Natalie shook her head. “But I have their CD!”
This was about as true as unicorns, since I’d made up the band name on the spot.”
My biggest outrage moment was over Alina, Rose's supposed BFF. Uh, please. She's false and manipulative and I just wanted to kick her ass goodbye (let's forget that she's actually a fictional character for a moment). I was seriously sad and angry on Rose's account for the fact that Alina is a crappy friend and a shitty person in general. I was ready for her to not trust Rose completely, but seriously, bullying? Making her former best friend's life a living social hell? I don't think I could forgive her if I were Rose.
Another disappointing thing (not in terms of the book, but because it's actually realistic) was Rose's relationship with her parents. Man, her mother needed a reality check and her father some solid daughter time. I felt sad for Rose that she had to live in such an unloving home.
And now on Ryan, Rose's boyfriend. In the end, I'm surprisingly okay with him. Not his biggest fan, but I'm not mad at him either. He didn't really abandon Rose, so I'm fine with that.
On the other hand, Rose wasn't completely alone. Hayley was a great friend! She was supportive, kind and ready to defend Rose.
And since we got all that heavy drama out of our way, let's talk boys. Ahem. Paxton is ah-mazing!!! *squeee* I love him to bits! He's gorgeous, smart, sweet and sarcastic! This antagonistic romance was wonderful! Best friends turned enemies turned couple? Come to mamma! Plus, their pranks were hilarious!
"This isn't an emergency, is it?"
"Um." My mouth was open. I shut it.
"Whatever it is, can it wait until I'm done with my shower?" Then Paxton noticed me staring. He grinned. "Unless you wanted to join me."
The plot was really well-built! I kept coming up with theories about the true arsonist's identity, but I was seriously left in the dark. Wondering, like Rose, who had the motive and hatred to do such a skam. I realized who the impostor was just before Rose came to the same conclusion, but it was a surprising and logical explanation at the same time. Besides Paxton's behavior at a certain point in the book (in the last part, actually) everything about Torched was unpredictable, so kuddos to the author for that!
"About last weekend," Paxton began. I cut him off.
"Oh, I already know what happened." Did I really sound breezy, or was it in my head?
"You do?"
"Sure. You turn into a werewolf at noon every Sunday, and didn't want me to see." That startled a laugh from Paxton, and I smiled. "That's it, isn't it? I bet it's hairy and gross. So thanks for sparing me."
Another thing I appreciated was the fact that Rose -- after she proves her innocence -- doesn't accept Alina, the other girls and Ryan back like they didn't abandon and embarass her. It sends a clear message that true friendship involves unwavering trust.
“And honestly, my victory wasn’t the dream dish I’d salivated over back when all I yearned for was to clear my name and regain my social standing. I was back at the top of the class pyramid, but it felt hollow now. The past month had taught me that most of my friends weren’t the thick-and-thin type, and that, just like my mom, I’d been oblivious to a lot.”
Andrea Lynn Colt created an amazingly sweet and fun story that I'll most definitely read again! Considering Torched is her debut, I'll certainly read her upcoming books.
All in all, Torched was such a refreshing read! It has everything I love in a contemporary book and it fits the description for a summer read perfectly! Love, mystery, a good amount of sarcasm and a road to self-discovery -- what more could you want? YA Contemporary junkies, read it now! I guarantee it will leave you smiling :)
ENJOY! <3
As you can see from the synopsis, Rose Whitfield's live crumbles down after she's framed for burning her boyfriend's boat. Her best friend, the most popular girl in the school, doesn't believe she's unquilty and humiliates her in front of the whole school. Her boyfriend doesn't speak to her, her parents are not exactly supportive and her valedictorian status might be compromised. She blames it all on Paxton, former best friend and geek, current star quarterback and hottie of the school, with whom she has a record of pranks and frauds. But when it turns out he has a solid alibi, they start working together to restore Rose's name.
I loved Rose and the way she evolved from being the popular, overly-confident cheerleader to a strong young-woman. She fit the mean-girl type, but, in her defense, she didn't even realize it until she learned on her own skin how it is to be stripped of your privileges -- isn't karma a pain in the ass? In plain words, she used to be selfish and arrogant.
But what I admired the most about her was the fact that she never gave up to proving her innocence. No matter the obstacles, she found a way to get past the bickering from school and to actually make a point she's not a jealous girlfriend gone crazy. And let's not forget her witty and snarky lines -- she's a hell of a lot fun!
“Hey, I heard there was a Sunshine Bats concert up here a couple weekends ago. The Friday before last, I think. Did you go?”
Natalie shook her head. “But I have their CD!”
This was about as true as unicorns, since I’d made up the band name on the spot.”
My biggest outrage moment was over Alina, Rose's supposed BFF. Uh, please. She's false and manipulative and I just wanted to kick her ass goodbye (let's forget that she's actually a fictional character for a moment). I was seriously sad and angry on Rose's account for the fact that Alina is a crappy friend and a shitty person in general. I was ready for her to not trust Rose completely, but seriously, bullying? Making her former best friend's life a living social hell? I don't think I could forgive her if I were Rose.
Another disappointing thing (not in terms of the book, but because it's actually realistic) was Rose's relationship with her parents. Man, her mother needed a reality check and her father some solid daughter time. I felt sad for Rose that she had to live in such an unloving home.
And now on Ryan, Rose's boyfriend. In the end, I'm surprisingly okay with him. Not his biggest fan, but I'm not mad at him either. He didn't really abandon Rose, so I'm fine with that.
On the other hand, Rose wasn't completely alone. Hayley was a great friend! She was supportive, kind and ready to defend Rose.
And since we got all that heavy drama out of our way, let's talk boys. Ahem. Paxton is ah-mazing!!! *squeee* I love him to bits! He's gorgeous, smart, sweet and sarcastic! This antagonistic romance was wonderful! Best friends turned enemies turned couple? Come to mamma! Plus, their pranks were hilarious!
"This isn't an emergency, is it?"
"Um." My mouth was open. I shut it.
"Whatever it is, can it wait until I'm done with my shower?" Then Paxton noticed me staring. He grinned. "Unless you wanted to join me."
The plot was really well-built! I kept coming up with theories about the true arsonist's identity, but I was seriously left in the dark. Wondering, like Rose, who had the motive and hatred to do such a skam. I realized who the impostor was just before Rose came to the same conclusion, but it was a surprising and logical explanation at the same time. Besides Paxton's behavior at a certain point in the book (in the last part, actually) everything about Torched was unpredictable, so kuddos to the author for that!
"About last weekend," Paxton began. I cut him off.
"Oh, I already know what happened." Did I really sound breezy, or was it in my head?
"You do?"
"Sure. You turn into a werewolf at noon every Sunday, and didn't want me to see." That startled a laugh from Paxton, and I smiled. "That's it, isn't it? I bet it's hairy and gross. So thanks for sparing me."
Another thing I appreciated was the fact that Rose -- after she proves her innocence -- doesn't accept Alina, the other girls and Ryan back like they didn't abandon and embarass her. It sends a clear message that true friendship involves unwavering trust.
“And honestly, my victory wasn’t the dream dish I’d salivated over back when all I yearned for was to clear my name and regain my social standing. I was back at the top of the class pyramid, but it felt hollow now. The past month had taught me that most of my friends weren’t the thick-and-thin type, and that, just like my mom, I’d been oblivious to a lot.”
Andrea Lynn Colt created an amazingly sweet and fun story that I'll most definitely read again! Considering Torched is her debut, I'll certainly read her upcoming books.
All in all, Torched was such a refreshing read! It has everything I love in a contemporary book and it fits the description for a summer read perfectly! Love, mystery, a good amount of sarcasm and a road to self-discovery -- what more could you want? YA Contemporary junkies, read it now! I guarantee it will leave you smiling :)
ENJOY! <3
June 24, 2017
At first, I thought this was going to be a little too "made for afterschool tv." Alina was so over the top mean and everyone at school. Add in Rose being a little too mean girl and a little too oblivious to what was about to happen, and I was ready to roll my eyes and just push through the book.
But in the midst of her rebuilding her friends and alliances, talking with Paxton and trying to figure out who framed her, I got pretty wrapped up in the story. And although I guessed half of the mystery early on, I didn't full flush out the twist and I was glad how it all turned out.
I like how much Rose grew in the story. Not that she grew but seemed to wake up and realize what all was going on. I liked Paxton and Ryan and hearing everyone's side of the story. It made the pages go quick and the story really enjoyable.
But in the midst of her rebuilding her friends and alliances, talking with Paxton and trying to figure out who framed her, I got pretty wrapped up in the story. And although I guessed half of the mystery early on, I didn't full flush out the twist and I was glad how it all turned out.
I like how much Rose grew in the story. Not that she grew but seemed to wake up and realize what all was going on. I liked Paxton and Ryan and hearing everyone's side of the story. It made the pages go quick and the story really enjoyable.
Read
February 11, 2013Read 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 rules, beginning with "we shall not rat each other out." Her number three is, "Don't admit anything."
Then one Friday night her boyfriend is too busy to go out, her BFF is doing something else, so Rose spends it home, studying . . . and wakes up to a police cruiser outside, come to haul her off to jail for arson. Somebody set her boyfriend's father's yacht on fire, and her missing cheer t-shirt is found at the scene, along with photos of her boyfriend with another girl. And nobody will believe Rose.
Her life turns hellish as the school takes its revenge, but the stuff they do to her doesn't hurt nearly as much as her besties not believing her--or her parents. She finally gets through to one person, ironically, her chief suspect; a fragile alliance is formed as they hunt for clues.
A terrific story with dimensional characters, a great sense of humor that did not diminish the painful side of emotions. Rose's quest has unexpected side effects in a lot of different ways, and not all of them are bad.
About the only thing I'd complain of is small (but jarred dyslexic me out of the story over and over): the misspelling of 'all right' as 'alright' (which I guess is gaining credence) and the wrong possessive apostrophes (the Appleton's when the text means the Appletons'). But if that's the only problem I have, I count the read as top notch, and will seek more by this author.
Then one Friday night her boyfriend is too busy to go out, her BFF is doing something else, so Rose spends it home, studying . . . and wakes up to a police cruiser outside, come to haul her off to jail for arson. Somebody set her boyfriend's father's yacht on fire, and her missing cheer t-shirt is found at the scene, along with photos of her boyfriend with another girl. And nobody will believe Rose.
Her life turns hellish as the school takes its revenge, but the stuff they do to her doesn't hurt nearly as much as her besties not believing her--or her parents. She finally gets through to one person, ironically, her chief suspect; a fragile alliance is formed as they hunt for clues.
A terrific story with dimensional characters, a great sense of humor that did not diminish the painful side of emotions. Rose's quest has unexpected side effects in a lot of different ways, and not all of them are bad.
About the only thing I'd complain of is small (but jarred dyslexic me out of the story over and over): the misspelling of 'all right' as 'alright' (which I guess is gaining credence) and the wrong possessive apostrophes (the Appleton's when the text means the Appletons'). But if that's the only problem I have, I count the read as top notch, and will seek more by this author.
December 30, 2017
This book was laughably bad, poorly written with every single element cranked up to 11. Our lovely protagonist, Rose Whitfield, tells the reader on the second page that she's not that cheerleader. Turns out that Rose actually is that Mean Girl, right from the nickname ("the Roses") to her utter disregard for everyone and everything around her, so much so that someone frames her for arson. Over the course of the book, Rose slowly realizes everyone hates her - for good reason - and to top it off, she ends up of the only girl who keeps being nice to her. If the writing was better, this type of character transformation might have been interesting, but Rose is surrounded by so much other stupid nonsense (her unbelievable prank war with Paxton, the literal stalking, every single person at her high school ganging up on her in the halls to trip her and make her miserable, a two-dimensional parental situation that strains all credulity, a police force that has clearly never dealt with a single crime in their lives) that it doesn't work. Very disappointing.
March 31, 2016
A nice, light-hearted read.
Rose is a strong character, stubborn, one who never gives up. Inspiring even. The accusation against her and her effort to clear her name is a blessing in disguise. It forces her to take a closer look at her life, her friends, her parents, and finally herself.
Alina and Ryan ought to learn a thing or two about friendship. Their behavior is abominable, especially Alina's. I was right there with Rose when the two of her most important people refused to believe her and threw her to the metaphorical dogs. A bit unbelievable though because it is usually our instinct to support our friends, best friends at that, to be defensive about them despite evidence, or at the least give them the benefit of doubt. I was eagerly waiting for them to realize their mistake.
Paxton was cute. I would have liked to see their love story develop a bit more.
The actual perpetrator was unexpected and her hatred extreme. One word: Teenagers
Rose is a strong character, stubborn, one who never gives up. Inspiring even. The accusation against her and her effort to clear her name is a blessing in disguise. It forces her to take a closer look at her life, her friends, her parents, and finally herself.
Alina and Ryan ought to learn a thing or two about friendship. Their behavior is abominable, especially Alina's. I was right there with Rose when the two of her most important people refused to believe her and threw her to the metaphorical dogs. A bit unbelievable though because it is usually our instinct to support our friends, best friends at that, to be defensive about them despite evidence, or at the least give them the benefit of doubt. I was eagerly waiting for them to realize their mistake.
Paxton was cute. I would have liked to see their love story develop a bit more.
The actual perpetrator was unexpected and her hatred extreme. One word: Teenagers
August 29, 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!
TORCHED is what would happen if Courtney Summers and Stephanie Perkins had sexy arson babies. I can't wait to read Colt's next!
March 27, 2017
AWESOME, UNPUTDOWNABLE, ENTERTAINING! Strongly written characters and exciting plot, great dialogues and romance, easy to read style of writing - I loved everything about this book. Don't miss it - reading it is a pure pleasure!!!
April 24, 2017
I'll be the first to admit that I usually ignore unsolicited author requests for reviews. Oh, sure, I read the summary and check out the cover, but usually I slip it into my "author requests" folder and forget about it. But every once in awhile, I get one that makes me take a second glance...and a third...and a fourth, until finally I relent and respond to the author. The request I received for Torched falls in that latter category. Please understand that I have no qualms with reading indies and self-pubbed titles...there are some phenomenal books under this heading. But I've simply already alotted much of my time for the review books already on my plate, and me sitting on a review book for an author not previously established would do said author a great disservice.
At any rate, I gave Torched a try, and I am ever so glad I did. Want to know just how much I enjoyed this YA whodunnit, with it's fantastic cast of characters and fun and sometimes frivolous plot? So much so that I couldn't even be bothered to jot down any notes while I was reading. That's almost unheard of for me. (It also might have helped me along the way to sort things out so that I might have deduced who the culprit was much sooner, but that's neither here nor there.) I started this book one night and had to put it aside after only a chapter or two because of other obligations, but once I got back to it, I didn't want to put the book down until I knew who was framing Rose.
As determined as Rose was to find out who set her up, I might have been even more so. That might have more to do with the fact that I allowed myself to be misdirected time and again, chasing down every lead and red herring thrown at me. Even worse, I felt like the characters were laughing at me because even they alluded to their own red herring. *sigh* That's okay, though. I had the evil-doer pegged before the ending, and that's enough to satisfy my need to always be right. =)
So, the mystery is fun and challenging...we've established that. The characters, too, are scintillating and fleshed out, each with their own motives or vendettas against the seemingly perfect Rose. Obviously, Rose thinks Paxton's finally gone for the jugular with their pranks and is the one responsible for framing her. But he has an alibi. And then he agrees to help her figure out the mystery, which surprises Rose even more. This leads them both to reevaluate their friendship, their rivalry, and their relationship as a whole...with tantalizing results. ;0)
I'm focusing on Rose and Paxton because after the events leading to Rose's arrest, her friends, her boyfriend, and her family practically abandon her, leaving her to sort out the mess on her own, which says a lot about her relationships and the types of people she allowed in her life to begin with. And about how she got herself into this position in the first place. A lot of people have been hurt by her and her friends' antics over the years, and someone's finally decided to make her pay the price...with a vengeance.
Torched is a lesson in love, understanding, and taking care to follow the Golden Rule. But it's also fun and sexy and perfect for fans of Miranda Kenneally's Catching Jordan/Hundred Oaks series. This sweet contemporary romance is being hailed across the blogosphere and with good reason. Andrea Lynn Cort is an author to watch, and I can't wait to see what fun she concocts next.
Favorite quotes:
"About last weekend," Paxton began. I cut him off.
"Oh, I already know what happened." Did I really sound breezy, or was it in my head?
"You do?"
"Sure. You turn into a werewolf at noon every Sunday, and didn't want me to see." That startled a laugh from Paxton, and I smiled. "That's it, isn't it? I bet it's hairy and gross. So thanks for sparing me."
His room was empty, but I heard the shower running down the hall. I was banging on the bathroom door before I could think twice about it.
Movement inside, and then the door whipped open. "Rose?"
"Way to go, Callaway. You've won first place in the jerkwad awards." Then I realized Paxton was naked but for a blue towel around his waist, held by one hand at his hip. I swallowed. That was a lot of skin. My eyes skimmed the top edge of the towel. Suddenly I felt like I was a sophomore again, noticing Paxton's new football chest for the first time.
Paxton stood there dripping, then swiped water from his face.
"This isn't an emergency, is it?"
"Um." My mouth was open. I shut it.
"Whatever it is, can it wait until I'm done with my shower?" Then Paxton noticed me staring. He grinned. "Unless you wanted to join me."
Thanks to the author for providing a copy for review.
This review can also be found at The Starry-Eyed Revue.
At any rate, I gave Torched a try, and I am ever so glad I did. Want to know just how much I enjoyed this YA whodunnit, with it's fantastic cast of characters and fun and sometimes frivolous plot? So much so that I couldn't even be bothered to jot down any notes while I was reading. That's almost unheard of for me. (It also might have helped me along the way to sort things out so that I might have deduced who the culprit was much sooner, but that's neither here nor there.) I started this book one night and had to put it aside after only a chapter or two because of other obligations, but once I got back to it, I didn't want to put the book down until I knew who was framing Rose.
As determined as Rose was to find out who set her up, I might have been even more so. That might have more to do with the fact that I allowed myself to be misdirected time and again, chasing down every lead and red herring thrown at me. Even worse, I felt like the characters were laughing at me because even they alluded to their own red herring. *sigh* That's okay, though. I had the evil-doer pegged before the ending, and that's enough to satisfy my need to always be right. =)
So, the mystery is fun and challenging...we've established that. The characters, too, are scintillating and fleshed out, each with their own motives or vendettas against the seemingly perfect Rose. Obviously, Rose thinks Paxton's finally gone for the jugular with their pranks and is the one responsible for framing her. But he has an alibi. And then he agrees to help her figure out the mystery, which surprises Rose even more. This leads them both to reevaluate their friendship, their rivalry, and their relationship as a whole...with tantalizing results. ;0)
I'm focusing on Rose and Paxton because after the events leading to Rose's arrest, her friends, her boyfriend, and her family practically abandon her, leaving her to sort out the mess on her own, which says a lot about her relationships and the types of people she allowed in her life to begin with. And about how she got herself into this position in the first place. A lot of people have been hurt by her and her friends' antics over the years, and someone's finally decided to make her pay the price...with a vengeance.
Torched is a lesson in love, understanding, and taking care to follow the Golden Rule. But it's also fun and sexy and perfect for fans of Miranda Kenneally's Catching Jordan/Hundred Oaks series. This sweet contemporary romance is being hailed across the blogosphere and with good reason. Andrea Lynn Cort is an author to watch, and I can't wait to see what fun she concocts next.
Favorite quotes:
"About last weekend," Paxton began. I cut him off.
"Oh, I already know what happened." Did I really sound breezy, or was it in my head?
"You do?"
"Sure. You turn into a werewolf at noon every Sunday, and didn't want me to see." That startled a laugh from Paxton, and I smiled. "That's it, isn't it? I bet it's hairy and gross. So thanks for sparing me."
His room was empty, but I heard the shower running down the hall. I was banging on the bathroom door before I could think twice about it.
Movement inside, and then the door whipped open. "Rose?"
"Way to go, Callaway. You've won first place in the jerkwad awards." Then I realized Paxton was naked but for a blue towel around his waist, held by one hand at his hip. I swallowed. That was a lot of skin. My eyes skimmed the top edge of the towel. Suddenly I felt like I was a sophomore again, noticing Paxton's new football chest for the first time.
Paxton stood there dripping, then swiped water from his face.
"This isn't an emergency, is it?"
"Um." My mouth was open. I shut it.
"Whatever it is, can it wait until I'm done with my shower?" Then Paxton noticed me staring. He grinned. "Unless you wanted to join me."
Thanks to the author for providing a copy for review.
This review can also be found at The Starry-Eyed Revue.
July 21, 2013
RATING: 4 Hearts
Every once in a while, we all need those light, relaxing books that are oh so good yet don’t overwhelm with heavy issues. Andrea Lynn Colt’s debut novel Torched is exactly that kind of book, but what makes this contemporary stand out from the rest; the mystery aspect. Colt does a brilliant job combining suspense, romance and humour to create this fun and entertaining read. Aside from a minor reservation, the teenage angst to the creative plot to the strong characters, there isn’t one feature I didn’t like about this book. While Torched isn’t all that mind blowing, it is still engaging and pleasantly surprising.
I was expecting the old run of the mill contemporary plot for Torched – girl meets boy, inevitable attraction and a happily ever after. However, I was taken back by the originality, which is fixed around the mystery of the arson. With fingers pointing at Rose for setting fire to her boyfriend’s family boat and teenage drama at a high, the story is twisty and edgy. Just when I thought I had the identity of the culprit figured out, the story would take an unexpected loop, and I would find myself back at square one. The mystery is woven expertly, which combined with the perfect pacing and witty writing style of Colt made the story addicting. Not to mention, Colt handles serious topics like bullying and relationships in ways that is significant without making them melodramatic. At no point is the plot downplayed, but, the ending could have been much better had it not been so easily dealt with.
What truly makes a book enjoyable (for me) are well developed characters, which this book has. Rose is one tough chick. In the beginning, we meet Rose, an immature high school girl who has no insight to the consequences of her actions. Her witty, confident personality make her a likeable character, but she isn’t memorable. But that changes when she is blamed for arson. From here on, Rose undergoes substantial character growth, making her a well-developed heroine. Although Rose is innocent, her ordeal shows her, her world from a negative standpoint, and it gives her a chance to redeem her past mistakes...and she does. Rose’s strength, holding her head high and admitting her faults, made it easy to connect with her and appreciate her. This book is a story of self discovery, which Colt handled beautifully.
You can’t have a contemporary without a little romance. First we have the sweet, romantic, the type of guy every girl wants, Ryan. But, there is just something about bad boys and ex-best friends that proves to be too alluring to resist. We have Paxton. Rose has serious issues with Paxton, but she also feels the intense chemistry between them, which makes her see him in a new light. Torched isn’t a romance focused story, which is surprisingly nice, but there are enough sweet and sizzling romantic moments (which includes the banter!) to satisfy. Rose and Paxton’s relationship is a fun one and I loved reading about them becoming closer once again.
A great delivery of an entertaining and engaging story with likeable characters and a mystery that will have you on your toes, Torched is a fantastic read. Andrea Lynn Colt’s debut is eye-catching, and I definitely look forward to seeing what else she has in store for us in the future.
This Review is also posted on my blog: Literary Love Affair
July 12, 2014
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.
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!).
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.
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!).
Read
July 19, 2018Framed 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 quick and vivacious style of writing in this self-published YA mystery. I liked the nuances in Rose's relationships, and I liked that issues like class were not ignored (and it reminded me a bit of Veronica Mars, in both this aspect and in its girl-detective-ness). I liked that Rose's path toward redemption, once she figured out that's what she was on, wasn't perfect and was challenging, and that not all her relationships could be fixed or restored, not to mention that there were some she rightly didn't wish to restore.
I had some trouble believing in Paxton and in his and Rose's shared history; the extent to which they continued their prank war over the years, how they supposedly focused on it so much and yet didn't really communicate or have any other sorts of possible positive interactions with one another (and yet still managed to set, and respect, ground rules for said prank war) didn't seem too believable to me. I mean, letting a Big Misunderstanding get out of control is a completely teenage thing, but I still didn't get how, with their personalities, how neither of them lost interest in their prank war (and, in fact, increasingly escalated it) before the events of the book.
I loved Rose's voice as well as the quick and vivacious style of writing in this self-published YA mystery. I liked the nuances in Rose's relationships, and I liked that issues like class were not ignored (and it reminded me a bit of Veronica Mars, in both this aspect and in its girl-detective-ness). I liked that Rose's path toward redemption, once she figured out that's what she was on, wasn't perfect and was challenging, and that not all her relationships could be fixed or restored, not to mention that there were some she rightly didn't wish to restore.
I had some trouble believing in Paxton and in his and Rose's shared history; the extent to which they continued their prank war over the years, how they supposedly focused on it so much and yet didn't really communicate or have any other sorts of possible positive interactions with one another (and yet still managed to set, and respect, ground rules for said prank war) didn't seem too believable to me. I mean, letting a Big Misunderstanding get out of control is a completely teenage thing, but I still didn't get how, with their personalities, how neither of them lost interest in their prank war (and, in fact, increasingly escalated it) before the events of the book.
May 25, 2013
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 was. Yet she waited so long to confront him/her!
Excuse me,but if I'm being arrested for somethingI didn't do and I think I know who the real criminal is, I'm not going to wait this long.
In a book, characters are supposed to grow and I didn't see this evolution for Rose .
After realized what she has done and how much she hurt people, she felt bad. But was it enough for me to like her or feel bad for her? Nope.
Besides, some things really bothered me,for instance, how she though making cookies for everyone would excuse her. Seriously, she is like what, seventeen[!!]
But after being framed herself and 250 pages, she realized than to apologize and make cookies aren't enough for people to forgive her - Seriously.
The characters, most of them, are all spoiled rich kids but Rose explained than they are more to them than just this side,espacially for her BFF, who used to humiliate people. But again, I never saw this other side, everything was so shallow int his 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 was. Yet she waited so long to confront him/her!
Excuse me,but if I'm being arrested for somethingI didn't do and I think I know who the real criminal is, I'm not going to wait this long.
In a book, characters are supposed to grow and I didn't see this evolution for Rose .
After realized what she has done and how much she hurt people, she felt bad. But was it enough for me to like her or feel bad for her? Nope.
Besides, some things really bothered me,for instance, how she though making cookies for everyone would excuse her. Seriously, she is like what, seventeen[!!]
But after being framed herself and 250 pages, she realized than to apologize and make cookies aren't enough for people to forgive her - Seriously.
The characters, most of them, are all spoiled rich kids but Rose explained than they are more to them than just this side,espacially for her BFF, who used to humiliate people. But again, I never saw this other side, everything was so shallow int his book.
September 19, 2012
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 character that i adore and envy at the same time! She opened her eyes and saw people for who they really are even if it wasn't for the better which i really admired in her because people tend to be blind to things they don't want out in the open.
Paxton was so sweet and i suppose anyone could tell his feelings fro the beginning and saw what was coming. I knew that was coming in the end but as they say, its not about the destination it's about how you got there! Besides, the journeys half the fun!
I think its really important in life to know who your true friends are, the ones that will always stick by you no matter what you go through, so i reckon this book has a good lesson in it that's appropriate for YA and i guess most age groups as well. It pays to know who has your back regardless because in the end your 'friends' might just be the ones who stab you in the back!
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 character that i adore and envy at the same time! She opened her eyes and saw people for who they really are even if it wasn't for the better which i really admired in her because people tend to be blind to things they don't want out in the open.
Paxton was so sweet and i suppose anyone could tell his feelings fro the beginning and saw what was coming. I knew that was coming in the end but as they say, its not about the destination it's about how you got there! Besides, the journeys half the fun!
I think its really important in life to know who your true friends are, the ones that will always stick by you no matter what you go through, so i reckon this book has a good lesson in it that's appropriate for YA and i guess most age groups as well. It pays to know who has your back regardless because in the end your 'friends' might just be the ones who stab you in the back!
October 11, 2012
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 arsonist. It was pretty exciting.
Until of course, the initial confession. I was like, Whaat?? It just came out of nowhere. And frankly, the reason behind the arson was pretty dense. I thought THAT was it. So, in my mind, I was already itching to give this book 3 stars!
But then, an unexpected twist happened, and I'm doing my happy dance once again.
I also liked the growth of Rose's character in this story. From being a shallow person, she became someone who is sensitive to another person's feeling. Just goes to show that tragedy indeed brings out the best in people.
Rose and Paxton. Let me just say this: your pranks rocked! Wouldn't like them happening to me in real life (who would?) but I definitely enjoyed reading about them!
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 arsonist. It was pretty exciting.
Until of course, the initial confession. I was like, Whaat?? It just came out of nowhere. And frankly, the reason behind the arson was pretty dense. I thought THAT was it. So, in my mind, I was already itching to give this book 3 stars!
But then, an unexpected twist happened, and I'm doing my happy dance once again.
I also liked the growth of Rose's character in this story. From being a shallow person, she became someone who is sensitive to another person's feeling. Just goes to show that tragedy indeed brings out the best in people.
Rose and Paxton. Let me just say this: your pranks rocked! Wouldn't like them happening to me in real life (who would?) but I definitely enjoyed reading about them!
December 1, 2012
“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 like one of the most amazing book that I've read so far. The protagonist. The characters. The plot. They were all amazing and asdfghjkl;]. Ugh, there are no words to describe this book. Honestly, I don't know where to start or what to say. I just felt like writing something about this book because I felt like I'm being 'ungrateful' if I didn't tell the world how awesome this book is.
When I started reading this book, I am really surprised at first. What with Rose claiming that she isn't one of those 'stereotype cheerleaders' who are mean, dumb, self-centred and vapid bottle blondes. But you know what? As the story goes on and she became aware of what her actions and pranks (mostly intended for Paxton) did to others. And she realised that she is every bit of the 'stereotype cheerleader' she claimed of not being at the start... well, except for being dumb because mind you, she's the front-runner for valedictorian, but, aside from that she's every bit of the mean, self-absorbed, perfectionist bitch that everyone loves.
Which lead me to thinking if my cousin aka our school's version of a stereotype cheerleader (with the really dumb part thrown in) is the same as Rose, who thinks of herself as one of the nice people and being blind about how bitchy bitch she is. She doesn't know if her actions hurt people because she is too self-absorbed to care of anyone but herself. Yep, that's my cousin. And the person lucky enough to be chosen for her to fluffin' humiliate and make fun of is yours truly (gosh, I felt so honored). To tell the truth, things between the two of us weren't so ugly. We used to be best friends since..idk, birth?! up to Grade 6. But when I started high school, things between us went south. She's a level higher than me so she's not really my classmate but I am confused why small things like that would be a barrier between us. She began hanging out with different people in her level, saying that I wouldn't understand things they do and talk about because I am too much of a child and would know nothing about love life. Yep, looove life...I should've known! It's because of my lack of freakin' love life!. Gosh, so stupid and childish of me not to consider important things like that in friendship. I am so disgusted with myself. How inconsiderate of me! I should've kneel and ask for forgiveness that my lack of experience, suitors, flowers and chocolates brought her the catastrophe of finding other experts-in-love-life friends. I really am a horrible person. I really deserved to have those nasty rumours about me circulated in the whole campus. She even went in our classroom and handed me the bouquet one of her suitors gave her and said "O, ayan. Nang makaranas ka namang makahawak ng bouquet." And she did it in front of the whole class. And I was like standing there and gawking at her because it was her first time to do that and I cannot believe what she's doing to me until she gave this really mean laugh while her cronies stood behind her smirking at me. I thought things like that only happen on movies and books. But then, there I was being served my first taste of humiliation ala creme by the bitches. Up until now, the humiliation and pranks and the smirks aren't gone and I didn't expect them to. But know this, in every snide remarks and insults and all those mean things she said, I never fought back like Paxton did. Not once. One can say that it's because I'm scared and intimidated by them. Maybe a little, but it's not like that. I know this is pathetic, but I used to hope that things between us will be knitted and go back to normal but this is now an impossibility, I am far to hurt and furious by her actions that I will end up smothering her in her sleep if we ever have a sleepover at her house.
Deep down, I know that I will always forgive her for everything she did, but I will never forget. I will look back at those memories and feel nothing because I already forgave her but the memories are still there, they will not vanish because I made myself memorise every moment of the humiliation and things she said because I would like to remind myself the person she became and that the person I loved and looked up to was long gone.
So see, this book made me very emotional especially as the story unfolded more fully and I saw how Rose changed and how she apologised to those persons she did wrong and how her relationship with Paxton was fixed with love they have for each other. I know this was more like a short story of my high school life but this was what the book made me feel. Instead of having false hope that things will go back to the way it is, it opened my eyes a bit wider to reality. My life and my reality isn't a story and the characters sure aren't. So I better leave them the way it is and hope for the best.
This review is supposed to be contained by lots of fan girling and Paxton's hotness but I was sort of carried away in the start.
And Rose, despite being a self-absorbed person in the start, was really a good daughter and a nice person in her own way. She's brave and stubborn and a very strong character.
“Alina doesn’t own this school,” I muttered as the hot air roared. I hadn’t expected her to pull that junk in the cafeteria, but if that was the way she wanted to play it, fine. I wasn’t going to waste any more of my time begging to talk to her. I’d prove my innocence on my own, and then she’d be the one groveling for forgiveness” I can't help myself from chanting "Go Girl, Go Girl!" in this one.
“If they’re arresting me, my parents must be okay.
An idiotic thought while you’re being carted off to jail, right? But there it was.” Like I said she's a very good daughter! Instead of panicking that the police will arrest her, she felt relief of all things. She care more about her parents than herself so you can see how frustrated I am that her parents did not believe that she's so not a criminal. But all in all this is one of the best books I've read this year. I think I should end this now before I pour my whole life in this review. And honestly, I hope that no one from school read this or else I'm toast. :D
Holy fluffin' fudge. (borrowed from the vocabulary of Ms. Hartley Featherstone)
I love, love, looooooove this book. It's like one of the most amazing book that I've read so far. The protagonist. The characters. The plot. They were all amazing and asdfghjkl;]. Ugh, there are no words to describe this book. Honestly, I don't know where to start or what to say. I just felt like writing something about this book because I felt like I'm being 'ungrateful' if I didn't tell the world how awesome this book is.
When I started reading this book, I am really surprised at first. What with Rose claiming that she isn't one of those 'stereotype cheerleaders' who are mean, dumb, self-centred and vapid bottle blondes. But you know what? As the story goes on and she became aware of what her actions and pranks (mostly intended for Paxton) did to others. And she realised that she is every bit of the 'stereotype cheerleader' she claimed of not being at the start... well, except for being dumb because mind you, she's the front-runner for valedictorian, but, aside from that she's every bit of the mean, self-absorbed, perfectionist bitch that everyone loves.
Which lead me to thinking if my cousin aka our school's version of a stereotype cheerleader (with the really dumb part thrown in) is the same as Rose, who thinks of herself as one of the nice people and being blind about how bitchy bitch she is. She doesn't know if her actions hurt people because she is too self-absorbed to care of anyone but herself. Yep, that's my cousin. And the person lucky enough to be chosen for her to fluffin' humiliate and make fun of is yours truly (gosh, I felt so honored). To tell the truth, things between the two of us weren't so ugly. We used to be best friends since..idk, birth?! up to Grade 6. But when I started high school, things between us went south. She's a level higher than me so she's not really my classmate but I am confused why small things like that would be a barrier between us. She began hanging out with different people in her level, saying that I wouldn't understand things they do and talk about because I am too much of a child and would know nothing about love life. Yep, looove life...I should've known! It's because of my lack of freakin' love life!. Gosh, so stupid and childish of me not to consider important things like that in friendship. I am so disgusted with myself. How inconsiderate of me! I should've kneel and ask for forgiveness that my lack of experience, suitors, flowers and chocolates brought her the catastrophe of finding other experts-in-love-life friends. I really am a horrible person. I really deserved to have those nasty rumours about me circulated in the whole campus. She even went in our classroom and handed me the bouquet one of her suitors gave her and said "O, ayan. Nang makaranas ka namang makahawak ng bouquet." And she did it in front of the whole class. And I was like standing there and gawking at her because it was her first time to do that and I cannot believe what she's doing to me until she gave this really mean laugh while her cronies stood behind her smirking at me. I thought things like that only happen on movies and books. But then, there I was being served my first taste of humiliation ala creme by the bitches. Up until now, the humiliation and pranks and the smirks aren't gone and I didn't expect them to. But know this, in every snide remarks and insults and all those mean things she said, I never fought back like Paxton did. Not once. One can say that it's because I'm scared and intimidated by them. Maybe a little, but it's not like that. I know this is pathetic, but I used to hope that things between us will be knitted and go back to normal but this is now an impossibility, I am far to hurt and furious by her actions that I will end up smothering her in her sleep if we ever have a sleepover at her house.
Deep down, I know that I will always forgive her for everything she did, but I will never forget. I will look back at those memories and feel nothing because I already forgave her but the memories are still there, they will not vanish because I made myself memorise every moment of the humiliation and things she said because I would like to remind myself the person she became and that the person I loved and looked up to was long gone.
So see, this book made me very emotional especially as the story unfolded more fully and I saw how Rose changed and how she apologised to those persons she did wrong and how her relationship with Paxton was fixed with love they have for each other. I know this was more like a short story of my high school life but this was what the book made me feel. Instead of having false hope that things will go back to the way it is, it opened my eyes a bit wider to reality. My life and my reality isn't a story and the characters sure aren't. So I better leave them the way it is and hope for the best.
This review is supposed to be contained by lots of fan girling and Paxton's hotness but I was sort of carried away in the start.
And Rose, despite being a self-absorbed person in the start, was really a good daughter and a nice person in her own way. She's brave and stubborn and a very strong character.
“Alina doesn’t own this school,” I muttered as the hot air roared. I hadn’t expected her to pull that junk in the cafeteria, but if that was the way she wanted to play it, fine. I wasn’t going to waste any more of my time begging to talk to her. I’d prove my innocence on my own, and then she’d be the one groveling for forgiveness” I can't help myself from chanting "Go Girl, Go Girl!" in this one.
“If they’re arresting me, my parents must be okay.
An idiotic thought while you’re being carted off to jail, right? But there it was.” Like I said she's a very good daughter! Instead of panicking that the police will arrest her, she felt relief of all things. She care more about her parents than herself so you can see how frustrated I am that her parents did not believe that she's so not a criminal. But all in all this is one of the best books I've read this year. I think I should end this now before I pour my whole life in this review. And honestly, I hope that no one from school read this or else I'm toast. :D
August 13, 2017
This book was so good! I love enemies to lovers books, and this one was so well done! The romance happened naturally within the context of the story, and it really felt inevitable. Unlike in most love/hate books, Paxton wasn't a misogynistic jerk. He was a great boyfriend right from the start, and sexy too! I like how this author avoided all the usual cliches about football players and cheerleaders and showed them as real people. They are also real teenagers, and not jaded beyond their years like in most YA love/hate romances. Paxton doesn't have the sexual experience of a rock star. He's a normal, cute teenage guy that girls in his school crush on. Rose's boyfriend, Ryan, also isn't conveniently revealed to be a behind-her-back jerk. I'm impressed how the author didn't rely on the typical character flaws for any of her characters. They had flaws, but they were not the same overused ones that I've seen in so many books.
In the case of the queen bee, the opposite seemed to be true at first. Yet the author soon dug deeper and gave her more depth than was seen at first glance. The complicated female relationships took this book to another level beyond most YA romances. Rose's emotional awakening involved much more than romance. Truly, this book had it all, including the parental involvement that is often barely touched on in YA books.
In the case of the queen bee, the opposite seemed to be true at first. Yet the author soon dug deeper and gave her more depth than was seen at first glance. The complicated female relationships took this book to another level beyond most YA romances. Rose's emotional awakening involved much more than romance. Truly, this book had it all, including the parental involvement that is often barely touched on in YA books.
September 8, 2013
4 stars!
Wow! That was unpredictable - the culprit.
I'd like to start this by expressing how much I L-O-V-E the cover of Torched! Definitely true to its title, really eye-catching and I just love the simplicity of it. I am getting a little bit tired of seeing couples on the front cover of most books that somehow my curiosity already dampens from the beginning; Torched is simply a breath of fresh air!
Here’s the Blurb:
Cheerleader Rose Whitfield's senior year goes up in smoke when she's framed for arson. Sure that the culprit is her neighbor Paxton, with whom she's been feuding since middle school, she sets out to clear her name and take Paxton down hard--not necessarily in that order.
Much treasured fame and title of Rose were trashed the moment she was suspected and jailed for arson not to mention the reason behind such unnecessary behaviour – boyfriend caught in the act cheating. Damn. Boy oh boy, what a broken heart can lead you to. But wait, here’s the catch, the night the incident happened, our dear Rose is seriously doing her homework, busy and all. If that’s the case, why is it that all the evidences only lead to Rose? Something’s definitely not right here. Enter her beloved (or not?) neighbour – Paxton. They have this little or maybe not so little war that started in eight grade, their pranks have gone from the simple cranberry juice attack thrown by Paxton to the mysterious case of arson? Is it just a prank gone bad or there’s more to it?
Reading Torched gave me the feeling of nostalgia. High school days are totally the craziest yet the most unforgettable one. Rose has it all, she’s a cheerleader, she’s brainy – soon to graduate as valedictorian, and she got the most coveted guy wrapped around her finger, Ryan Appleton. Almost forgot that she’s BFF to Alina - famous, rich, and mean (oops!). You got it, she’s in the A-list. So cliché! But never judge a book just by the introduction of the lead character because I am telling you Rose and her sleuthing skills plus her witty banter with Paxton are something to look out for.
I’ve mentioned Alina,
The whole story revolves around finding who is really the culprit behind setting the boat, owned by the Appletons, on fire. So I started with guessing that it is Alina but as the story progresses, more and more names are added to the list. And the fun part is how your guesses were crossed out as you reached to the revelation part. I must say, I am no Sherlock, the person was never in my list, never crossed my mind, and yet she/they has all the reason from the beginning to be the suspect/s. I must have overlooked and focused all my doubts to Alina, silly me.
I should mention Paxton Callaway, the neighbour of the Whitfields and friend to Ryan Appleton. Well from the blurb itself you know enough that the romance is between Rose and Paxton. I can’t help myself from smiling whenever the two engaged to a witty banter. Paxton’s smart enough to start it and Rose is sharp to respond to it. I love them. I am just a little disappointed that there aren’t enough sweet and heart-pounding moments between the two. There’s the most awaited scene – the kiss but that’s it, I am looking for more intimate moments, sweet talk, and more revelation on the part of Paxton. I can’t fully grasp his admiration and crush for Rose, I want to know what’s going on in his head. Alternating POV in some parts of the book would be totally agreeable.
There’s also the thing about Rose’s family. Her parents aren’t the most supportive in the parental department and I am looking for scenes or maybe a full chapter at most, that will deal with her family issues. Her parents aren’t all for talks, I find it weird that a mom like of Rose’s cares more about her luxurious living, jewelries and trips, than finding the time to talk to her daughter and mend whatever is broken to their relationship. I can’t imagine having a mother who’s gladly open for a bonding time while watching a Disney flick than being more concern in dealing with her child’s problem at school or most importantly, her for being pointed as suspect for arson. Earth calling to her mom, handcuffs, jail? It is your child, your only daughter, we are talking here. I guess one cannot really have it all, you maybe rocking your school career but the downside is you’re taken for granted at home. Poor Rose.
For a debut book, Ms. Andrea Colt has done a great job creating a promising story, a unique one with Torched. It’s a romance with a thrill. Readers who are tired of the usual romance reads should dive in head first into this. I am sure it will not be my last read of Ms. Colt’s. Pick it up and let the guessing begins.
July 5, 2017
Well,
This is one of the few books where I ended up saying "wow, I did not see that coming."
Even if some scenes are cliche, this is still a fun read, add a dash of mystery and you have the perfect summer book.
This is one of the few books where I ended up saying "wow, I did not see that coming."
Even if some scenes are cliche, this is still a fun read, add a dash of mystery and you have the perfect summer book.
October 25, 2012
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.
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.
December 28, 2012
What a fun read! Seriously. I had fun reading this book. It has a little bit of romance, a little bit of mystery, and really sends a good message.
Rose was a bit snobby. She had a pretty good life; she's popular, and has a great boyfriend. One night, everything changes. She gets arrested for arson, but she's being framed. To top it off, it appears that her loving boyfriend has cheated on her. Could her life get worse? Yes. It could. Her best friend turns her back on her and her parents are less than supportive. What starts off as a perfect fairy tale life, ends up being a train wreck with several life lessons.
Rose learns not only who her true friends are, but sees her parents in a different light. I have to say that her parents really ticked me off. Her dad was so focused on pleasing her mom, rather than helping his daughter though a major crisis. Then, her best friend really made me mad too. If it were me, I don't know if I could have moved past that betrayal. Rose also learns that her behavior in the past was less than stellar. She wants to turn a new leaf and not treat people the way she used to. I admired that and felt that it was a good message. Showed growth in her character. In the light of all this turmoil though is Paxton.
Paxton was, at one time, her best friend, but has since become an enemy. They've played pranks on each other for years. Rose suspects that Paxton is the one who has set her up, but he ends up helping her find the real arsonist. I really really loved Paxton.
The story kept me on my toes. I had so many different theories about "who done it" the whole time. I had a list in my head of all the suspects, but one kept coming up in my mind. Only because it's usually someone you least expect. Was I right? I was on the right track, but wasn't positive until right near the end.
Torched was kind of a surprise for me. I knew I'd like it based on the description and the reviews that I've read, but it really did capture my attention. I'd defintely recommend it to my YA readers. It's fun, flirty, and overall enjoyable.
Rose was a bit snobby. She had a pretty good life; she's popular, and has a great boyfriend. One night, everything changes. She gets arrested for arson, but she's being framed. To top it off, it appears that her loving boyfriend has cheated on her. Could her life get worse? Yes. It could. Her best friend turns her back on her and her parents are less than supportive. What starts off as a perfect fairy tale life, ends up being a train wreck with several life lessons.
Rose learns not only who her true friends are, but sees her parents in a different light. I have to say that her parents really ticked me off. Her dad was so focused on pleasing her mom, rather than helping his daughter though a major crisis. Then, her best friend really made me mad too. If it were me, I don't know if I could have moved past that betrayal. Rose also learns that her behavior in the past was less than stellar. She wants to turn a new leaf and not treat people the way she used to. I admired that and felt that it was a good message. Showed growth in her character. In the light of all this turmoil though is Paxton.
Paxton was, at one time, her best friend, but has since become an enemy. They've played pranks on each other for years. Rose suspects that Paxton is the one who has set her up, but he ends up helping her find the real arsonist. I really really loved Paxton.
The story kept me on my toes. I had so many different theories about "who done it" the whole time. I had a list in my head of all the suspects, but one kept coming up in my mind. Only because it's usually someone you least expect. Was I right? I was on the right track, but wasn't positive until right near the end.
Torched was kind of a surprise for me. I knew I'd like it based on the description and the reviews that I've read, but it really did capture my attention. I'd defintely recommend it to my YA readers. It's fun, flirty, and overall enjoyable.
November 5, 2012
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 every teen shares with their parents, is tested and I really loved the way all of the dynamics changed after some really tough decisions had to be made. Paxton's character provides a lot of funny banter as he and Rose confront their past pranks, but seeing their friendship develop and change helped move the story along and provided some great character tension.
The thing that I liked about Rose was that she was so....unlikable, at first. The author was not afraid to show the less than flattering portrayal of a main character so that we, as readers, could appreciate the growth that took place as the story progressed. Her best friend, who was quick to abandon her when the accusations were made, was another character that I wanted to hate, but ended up appreciating more as the story developed. On the surface this book might seem like a story of simple vindication, but when you get into the heart of the book, I think you will find that it goes much deeper than that. It was also a story about families and their complicated structures, about love and forgiveness and about how easy it is to get wrapped up in our own little world without realizing how your actions impact those around you. I think that anyone who enjoys YA contemporary will love this story and it's one that I highly recommend.
The thing that I liked about Rose was that she was so....unlikable, at first. The author was not afraid to show the less than flattering portrayal of a main character so that we, as readers, could appreciate the growth that took place as the story progressed. Her best friend, who was quick to abandon her when the accusations were made, was another character that I wanted to hate, but ended up appreciating more as the story developed. On the surface this book might seem like a story of simple vindication, but when you get into the heart of the book, I think you will find that it goes much deeper than that. It was also a story about families and their complicated structures, about love and forgiveness and about how easy it is to get wrapped up in our own little world without realizing how your actions impact those around you. I think that anyone who enjoys YA contemporary will love this story and it's one that I highly recommend.
March 27, 2013
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, and did SUCH an amazing job at that!
The main character Rose is needless to say, in everyone eyes … Perfect. Having the hottest boyfriend, and a best friend who basically owns the school, what else could you want? Nothing. Unbeknownst to Rose, she has quite a few people who dislike, maybe even hate her. She never realized her wrong doings unto people until she spent the night in jail. Rose is being framed for arson and ends up in her losing everything she holds dear to her.
Torched has so many great qualities for a read. Mystery, Romance, Humor, and yes... even angst and sadness. The synopsis doesn’t give this book enough credit. Andrea makes it incredibly easy for you to relate personally with the characters. I completely devoured this book in one sitting. I had to know how it ended. There was so many questions that needed to be answered! [And they were] I really enjoyed reading this novel and look forward to Andrea’s next works.
I would definitely recommend this book. While the characters were in high school, you can still relate to them even if you’re not. I didn’t feel like I was reliving high school either. Being the backdrop, you know where you are but there is so many other things going on that you don’t even care. Which, I loved. Oh, and just saying… #Team Paxton <3
January 31, 2013
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 no boyfriend, no friend, and not even Cloudmonster. Rose is now forced to look at her life and try to figure out who hates her enough to do something like this, and she realizes that the list of suspects is much longer then she could have anticipated. And maybe these people have a reason to hate her after all. Her only ally is... Paxton? Okay, I really liked this book. I was expecting fluff, and it was actually pretty deep. It was certainly funny at times, but we see Rose grow throughout the book as she realizes that maybe she's been taking too many people for granted. She's certainly not perfect, but she's not totally unlikable. I do have to admit that I thought she was unnecessarily hateful for far too long to Paxton. They were friends at one point, so you'd think that if he did what he did to her in 8th grade, she would have tried to find out why back then. But typical to these stories, there is a big lack of communication. That's my only complaint, and I really think it's fairly minor. I enjoyed the book, and I really liked the mystery. I also liked how Rose really tried to give the people she trusted and cared about the benefit of the doubt, and not jump to conclusions. I know she'd done it earlier in her life with Pax, but she really tried to do right by the ones she cared about.
December 30, 2012
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 sets out to clear her name and realises her life was far from perfect.
Torched is part mystery, part romance. Rose is an engaging character who is thrown into a horrible situation and the author makes you feel for her every step of the way, as she tries to prove her innocence. The mystery elements have overtones of Veronica Mars, with Rose coming up with inventive ways to find out the truth and check out people's alibis. There's some great twists and turns that kept me turning the (virtual) pages, but nothing comes so far out of left field that you can't look back and realise the clues were there all along. The romance builds up at just the right speed and the "will they? won't they?" aspect feels right for the character's involved.
The narrative is told in the first person, from Rose's point of view. Her "voice" come across loud and clear, so we really get to know her as a person and experience her pain, horror, love and (most importantly) her growth as a character.
Torched is an entertaining, witty novel that will keep you guessing until the end. Whether you like romance, or mystery, this is a compelling read which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Torched is part mystery, part romance. Rose is an engaging character who is thrown into a horrible situation and the author makes you feel for her every step of the way, as she tries to prove her innocence. The mystery elements have overtones of Veronica Mars, with Rose coming up with inventive ways to find out the truth and check out people's alibis. There's some great twists and turns that kept me turning the (virtual) pages, but nothing comes so far out of left field that you can't look back and realise the clues were there all along. The romance builds up at just the right speed and the "will they? won't they?" aspect feels right for the character's involved.
The narrative is told in the first person, from Rose's point of view. Her "voice" come across loud and clear, so we really get to know her as a person and experience her pain, horror, love and (most importantly) her growth as a character.
Torched is an entertaining, witty novel that will keep you guessing until the end. Whether you like romance, or mystery, this is a compelling read which I thoroughly enjoyed.
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