Review: GAMES OF FIRE by Airicka Phoenix

Title: GAMES OF FIRE

Author: Airicka Phoenix

Source: ebook from author

AMAZON    SMASHWORDS

GOODREADS

goodreads...

Sophie has enough problems in her life without Spencer turning her blood to fire, without his eyes freezing and burning her, without his hatred of her. Since his migration into the house next to hers, Sophia Valdez isn’t sure whether she wants to toss him under a bus or kiss that smirking mouth of his. But even as the temperature rises around them, leaping flames of passion, want and desire, everything either has ever known will be shattered by the lurking shadow hounding their every step, wanting revenge. 

Spencer Rowth moves to the sleepy town of River Port with his mother and twelve year old sister, Suzy, to escape a deceitful father, an unfaithful girlfriend and a life crumbling much too fast for him to grapple onto only to be smacked upside the head by the last thing he wanted again. Sophie was everything he refused to want. Her temper, her wit, her laugh, her smile, the way her entire body goes up in flames under his hands are things he would rather slam a lid on and forget. Instead, he finds himself falling for the smart-mouth next door. But how long will he have before the evil chasing them catches up? How long before the very thing he never wanted becomes his only thread to sanity? And who is after them? What do they want and why do they want Spencer and Sophie dead?

My take...

It was becoming apparent very quickly that the bogeyman no longer resided beneath her bed or in her closet, but stepped into the world beyond the dark. It had stepped into her world where it could frighten her whenever it pleased.

From the moment that Sophie meets her new gorgeous next door neighbor she is weak for him. The only thing is he is completely hot and cold with her. You see, Spencer has been hurt before and has sworn off girls altogether; believing they are cheaters and only out to hurt you. Slowly Sophie has to show Spencer that she is different than the girl who broke his heart…that she truly likes him and doesn’t want to hurt him. Once Spencer realizes he is falling for her he gives Sophie his all. And they live happily ever after. Right? Wrong. Soon attacks and threats are being made against the young couple. Together, with the help of their families and the police, they try to figure out who is coming at them and stop them before it is too late. Why would someone want to hurt Sophie? And at what lengths will the attacker go to in order to get to her? Buckle up and hang on…GAMES OF FIRE is such an intense ride.

Gonna be slightly honest with you. I wasn't entirely in the mood to read this book; not another paranormal. (4 users on goodreads tagged it paranormal and even the cover gives off a paranormalesk feel) I needed a good contemporary fiction to get my blood moving after reading a few supernatural/paranormal books. And as I started reading the story, I soon become hooked. This book was starting off like a contemp read and I was totally digging that about it. But where are the werewolves? Where is the vampires? So guess what I came to realize at the end of the book? AT THE FREAKING END OF THE BOOK? This is not a paranormal read. So you readers who tagged it one? Yeah I hate you. Like seriously hate you.

Ok now that my rant is over, lets talk about the innards to the book…the rich, delicious goodness to the book. What did I love about this book? Um, like everything. I seriously don’t think I found one single problem with it. Well besides the fact that the book ended and there is not another one in the making. Doesn’t Phoenix understand she cannot give us a character like Spencer and make it a one book deal? Things don’t work that way. Maybe if we band together and riot, Phoenix will hear our demands for more Spencer and Sophie. 

Another aspect I loved was the dialogue in the story. This author is absolutely hilarious and it shows in her writing. The witty banter, the snarky comments, and the conversations that were carried on by the characters had me smiling and laughing out loud. I totally fell for these people after just a few pages in. I mean, how could you not? Everything flowed smoothly and nothing felt forced or artificial.

Ok, I have rambled enough. But know this…GAMES OF FIRE is a definite must read. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves an intense, pager turner full of romance and suspense. The emotions that you experience while reading this is absolutely insane and the book coma it leaves you with when you are done is completely euphoric. I may not beable to start another book tonight...giving it time for this one to sink it and marinate. Pick GAMES OF FIRE up today and you can thank me later.