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Storms #2
Cloudburst
The follow-up to Family Storms from New York Times bestselling author V.C. Andrews features high school senior Sasha Porter in search of her sister—but instead she learns secrets that could tear her family apart.
Sasha is a popular senior in high school, with excellent grades and no more secrets to hide. She finds herself more and more interested in one boy, Duane Banks, who stands out not because he flaunts his good looks and his achievements at the school like so many, but because he is shy and somewhat withdrawn.
When auditions for the new school play begin, she and Duane both get parts and with the rehearsals, Duane seems to be coming out of his shell, permitting himself to hope and succeed at something. Sasha and Duane become a couple, and their relationships continues to grow.
When the play opens, Sasha’s foster parents attend, but neither of Duane’s parents show up. Duane goes into a depression, and he begins to ignore not only his schoolwork, but also his appearance. She tries to warn his mother to be more concerned, but she resents Sasha’s inserting herself into their private lives and does nothing. Meanwhile, things take a bizarre turn at home for Sasha and then a sudden tragedy makes her wonder whether there’s anybody she can truly trust.
Sasha is a popular senior in high school, with excellent grades and no more secrets to hide. She finds herself more and more interested in one boy, Duane Banks, who stands out not because he flaunts his good looks and his achievements at the school like so many, but because he is shy and somewhat withdrawn.
When auditions for the new school play begin, she and Duane both get parts and with the rehearsals, Duane seems to be coming out of his shell, permitting himself to hope and succeed at something. Sasha and Duane become a couple, and their relationships continues to grow.
When the play opens, Sasha’s foster parents attend, but neither of Duane’s parents show up. Duane goes into a depression, and he begins to ignore not only his schoolwork, but also his appearance. She tries to warn his mother to be more concerned, but she resents Sasha’s inserting herself into their private lives and does nothing. Meanwhile, things take a bizarre turn at home for Sasha and then a sudden tragedy makes her wonder whether there’s anybody she can truly trust.
416 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 25, 2011
61 people are currently reading
2377 people want to read
About the author
V.C. Andrews
370 books9,083 followersBooks published under the following names - Virginia Andrews, V. Andrews, Virginia C. Andrews & V.C. Endrius. Books since her death ghost written by Andrew Neiderman, but still attributed to the V.C. Andrews name
Virginia Cleo Andrews (born Cleo Virginia Andrews) was born June 6, 1923 in Portsmouth, Virginia. The youngest child and the only daughter of William Henry Andrews, a career navy man who opened a tool-and-die business after retirement, and Lillian Lilnora Parker Andrews, a telephone operator. She spent her happy childhood years in Portsmouth, Virginia, living briefly in Rochester, New York. The Andrews family returned to Portsmouth while Virginia was in high school.
While a teenager, Virginia suffered a tragic accident, falling down the stairs at her school and incurred severe back injuries. Arthritis and a failed spinal surgical procedure forced her to spend most of her life on crutches or in a wheelchair.
Virginia excelled in school and, at fifteen, won a scholarship for writing a parody of Tennyson's Idylls of the King. She proudly earned her diploma from Woodrow Wilson High School in Portsmouth. After graduation, she nurtured her artistic talent by completing a four-year correspondence art course while living at home with her family.
After William Andrews died in the late 1960s, Virginia helped to support herself and her mother through her extremely successful career as a commercial artist, portrait painter, and fashion illustrator.
Frustrated with the lack of creative satisfaction that her work provided, Virginia sought creative release through writing, which she did in secret. In 1972, she completed her first novel, The Gods of the Green Mountain [sic], a science-fantasy story. It was never published. Between 1972 and 1979, she wrote nine novels and twenty short stories, of which only one was published. "I Slept with My Uncle on My Wedding Night", a short fiction piece, was published in a pulp confession magazine.
Promise gleamed over the horizon for Virginia when she submitted a 290,000-word novel, The Obsessed, to a publishing company. She was told that the story had potential, but needed to be trimmed and spiced up a bit. She drafted a new outline in a single night and added "unspeakable things my mother didn't want me to write about." The ninety-eight-page revision was re-titled Flowers in the Attic and she was paid a $7,500 advance. Her new-generation Gothic novel reached the bestseller lists a mere two weeks after its 1979 paperback publication by Pocket Books.
Petals on the Wind, her sequel to Flowers, was published the next year, earning Virginia a $35,000 advance. The second book remained on the New York Times bestseller list for an unbelievable nineteen weeks (Flowers also returned to the list). These first two novels alone sold over seven million copies in only two years. The third novel of the Dollanganger series, If There Be Thorns, was released in 1981, bringing Virginia a $75,000 advance. It reached No. 2 on many bestseller lists within its first two weeks.
Taking a break from the chronicles of Chris and Cathy Dollanganger, Virginia published her one, and only, stand-alone novel, My Sweet Audrina, in 1982. The book welcomed an immediate success, topping the sales figures of her previous novels. Two years later, a fourth Dollanganger novel was released, Seeds of Yesterday. According to the New York Times, Seeds was the best-selling fiction paperback novel of 1984. Also in 1984, V.C. Andrews was named "Professional Woman of the Year" by the city of Norfolk, Virginia.
Upon Andrews's death in 1986, two final novels—Garden of Shadows and Fallen Hearts—were published. These two novels are considered the last to bear the "V.C. Andrews" name and to be almost completely written by
Virginia Cleo Andrews (born Cleo Virginia Andrews) was born June 6, 1923 in Portsmouth, Virginia. The youngest child and the only daughter of William Henry Andrews, a career navy man who opened a tool-and-die business after retirement, and Lillian Lilnora Parker Andrews, a telephone operator. She spent her happy childhood years in Portsmouth, Virginia, living briefly in Rochester, New York. The Andrews family returned to Portsmouth while Virginia was in high school.
While a teenager, Virginia suffered a tragic accident, falling down the stairs at her school and incurred severe back injuries. Arthritis and a failed spinal surgical procedure forced her to spend most of her life on crutches or in a wheelchair.
Virginia excelled in school and, at fifteen, won a scholarship for writing a parody of Tennyson's Idylls of the King. She proudly earned her diploma from Woodrow Wilson High School in Portsmouth. After graduation, she nurtured her artistic talent by completing a four-year correspondence art course while living at home with her family.
After William Andrews died in the late 1960s, Virginia helped to support herself and her mother through her extremely successful career as a commercial artist, portrait painter, and fashion illustrator.
Frustrated with the lack of creative satisfaction that her work provided, Virginia sought creative release through writing, which she did in secret. In 1972, she completed her first novel, The Gods of the Green Mountain [sic], a science-fantasy story. It was never published. Between 1972 and 1979, she wrote nine novels and twenty short stories, of which only one was published. "I Slept with My Uncle on My Wedding Night", a short fiction piece, was published in a pulp confession magazine.
Promise gleamed over the horizon for Virginia when she submitted a 290,000-word novel, The Obsessed, to a publishing company. She was told that the story had potential, but needed to be trimmed and spiced up a bit. She drafted a new outline in a single night and added "unspeakable things my mother didn't want me to write about." The ninety-eight-page revision was re-titled Flowers in the Attic and she was paid a $7,500 advance. Her new-generation Gothic novel reached the bestseller lists a mere two weeks after its 1979 paperback publication by Pocket Books.
Petals on the Wind, her sequel to Flowers, was published the next year, earning Virginia a $35,000 advance. The second book remained on the New York Times bestseller list for an unbelievable nineteen weeks (Flowers also returned to the list). These first two novels alone sold over seven million copies in only two years. The third novel of the Dollanganger series, If There Be Thorns, was released in 1981, bringing Virginia a $75,000 advance. It reached No. 2 on many bestseller lists within its first two weeks.
Taking a break from the chronicles of Chris and Cathy Dollanganger, Virginia published her one, and only, stand-alone novel, My Sweet Audrina, in 1982. The book welcomed an immediate success, topping the sales figures of her previous novels. Two years later, a fourth Dollanganger novel was released, Seeds of Yesterday. According to the New York Times, Seeds was the best-selling fiction paperback novel of 1984. Also in 1984, V.C. Andrews was named "Professional Woman of the Year" by the city of Norfolk, Virginia.
Upon Andrews's death in 1986, two final novels—Garden of Shadows and Fallen Hearts—were published. These two novels are considered the last to bear the "V.C. Andrews" name and to be almost completely written by
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
November 27, 2011
Note: This is a joint review of both "Family Storms" and "Cloudburst"
When I think back to my adolescence, V.C. Andrews always pops into my mind. She was my absolute favorite author, with her Dollanganger/Flowers in the Attic series being the first set of books I became absolutely obsessed with. I still remember the thrills and excitement of a new V.C. Andrews release and hurrying to the local B. Dalton (pre-Barnes & Noble and Amazon) to pick it up as quickly as I could and staying up late into the night to devour it. Such were my emotions when I was asked to read and review Family Storms and Cloudburst, the two entries in the new "Secrets" saga - - thrills, excitement and a flashback to my teen years.
For those readers not in the know, author V.C. Andrews passed away in 1986, leaving her family to hire a writer to continue her legacy with outlines of future stories. Sadly, those sketches left by Ms. Andrews seem to be long gone.
Perhaps it's unfair for me to rate these books against the Flowers in the Attic series - - my absolute favorites - - but I can't help but do so. No one would accuse V.C. Andrews' writing of approaching Shakespearian levels; in fact, she was the late 70s/early 80s generation's Stephenie Meyers. She was a storyteller of addictive proportions, creating absolutely unforgettable characters and giving her tales a creepy, gothic factor. Family Secrets and Cloudburst fall short in this regard, although not for lack of potential.
The premise is good enough - - homeless young girl taken in by an obscenely wealthy family shrouded in secrets and with a young daughter who died tragically and a living daughter, spiraling out of control, who not only is responsible for the accident that placed Sasha in her family home and took her mother away from her but who deeply resents her.
I can't help but think if this book had been written and published 25-30 years ago, a deep dark secret would have been revealed about the younger daughter's death, one of the housekeepers might have been a Rebecca-esque Mrs. Danvers and perhaps Jordan Marsh may have literally tried to turn Sasha into her deceased daughter. Alas, none of this came to pass.
Similarly, in Cloudburst, several interesting storyline opportunities were passed up or allowed to slowly peter out. Characters that could have and should have been fleshed out were not; some issues were dragged out to nearly painful proportions.
Sasha was a confusing heroine for me. I liked her better in Family Storms although her ignorance at times was confounding. In Cloudburst she didn't seem like the best kind of friend and frankly, I couldn't understand how she kept the friends she had or why any of them would want to befriend her. I wanted to like her more than I did but she was so frustrating at times that I wanted to pull at my own hair.
I was disappointed with the ending of Cloudburst, which felt more like a non-ending to me. I waited for the trademark V.C. Andrews twists and turns and they simply were not forthcoming. Also missing was the gothic feel so apparent in early Andrews works, like the Flowers in the Attic series and the stunning stand alone, My Sweet Audrina.
Purely cosmetic and shallow but I loved the covers from the earliest Andrews books - - they added to the stories and told tales of their own. I don't particularly care for the more recent covers that feature simple photos. They are rather dull and honestly, the model(s) on the covers look(s) much too old to be Sasha.
That said, these are still V.C. Andrews books and, as such, they make great vacation books, or a good book to curl up with on a cold and rainy day. They won't be the filet mignon of your library but they are a quick fast food burger and will satisfy your literary cravings.
Review Copyright © Psychotic State Book Reviews
http://www.psychoticstate.net
When I think back to my adolescence, V.C. Andrews always pops into my mind. She was my absolute favorite author, with her Dollanganger/Flowers in the Attic series being the first set of books I became absolutely obsessed with. I still remember the thrills and excitement of a new V.C. Andrews release and hurrying to the local B. Dalton (pre-Barnes & Noble and Amazon) to pick it up as quickly as I could and staying up late into the night to devour it. Such were my emotions when I was asked to read and review Family Storms and Cloudburst, the two entries in the new "Secrets" saga - - thrills, excitement and a flashback to my teen years.
For those readers not in the know, author V.C. Andrews passed away in 1986, leaving her family to hire a writer to continue her legacy with outlines of future stories. Sadly, those sketches left by Ms. Andrews seem to be long gone.
Perhaps it's unfair for me to rate these books against the Flowers in the Attic series - - my absolute favorites - - but I can't help but do so. No one would accuse V.C. Andrews' writing of approaching Shakespearian levels; in fact, she was the late 70s/early 80s generation's Stephenie Meyers. She was a storyteller of addictive proportions, creating absolutely unforgettable characters and giving her tales a creepy, gothic factor. Family Secrets and Cloudburst fall short in this regard, although not for lack of potential.
The premise is good enough - - homeless young girl taken in by an obscenely wealthy family shrouded in secrets and with a young daughter who died tragically and a living daughter, spiraling out of control, who not only is responsible for the accident that placed Sasha in her family home and took her mother away from her but who deeply resents her.
I can't help but think if this book had been written and published 25-30 years ago, a deep dark secret would have been revealed about the younger daughter's death, one of the housekeepers might have been a Rebecca-esque Mrs. Danvers and perhaps Jordan Marsh may have literally tried to turn Sasha into her deceased daughter. Alas, none of this came to pass.
Similarly, in Cloudburst, several interesting storyline opportunities were passed up or allowed to slowly peter out. Characters that could have and should have been fleshed out were not; some issues were dragged out to nearly painful proportions.
Sasha was a confusing heroine for me. I liked her better in Family Storms although her ignorance at times was confounding. In Cloudburst she didn't seem like the best kind of friend and frankly, I couldn't understand how she kept the friends she had or why any of them would want to befriend her. I wanted to like her more than I did but she was so frustrating at times that I wanted to pull at my own hair.
I was disappointed with the ending of Cloudburst, which felt more like a non-ending to me. I waited for the trademark V.C. Andrews twists and turns and they simply were not forthcoming. Also missing was the gothic feel so apparent in early Andrews works, like the Flowers in the Attic series and the stunning stand alone, My Sweet Audrina.
Purely cosmetic and shallow but I loved the covers from the earliest Andrews books - - they added to the stories and told tales of their own. I don't particularly care for the more recent covers that feature simple photos. They are rather dull and honestly, the model(s) on the covers look(s) much too old to be Sasha.
That said, these are still V.C. Andrews books and, as such, they make great vacation books, or a good book to curl up with on a cold and rainy day. They won't be the filet mignon of your library but they are a quick fast food burger and will satisfy your literary cravings.
Review Copyright © Psychotic State Book Reviews
http://www.psychoticstate.net
November 8, 2011
This is the second book in this series, picking up three years later. Sasha is now a senior and getting ready to go to college. Her 'sister' is already in college and is now her friend and they speak all the time. Everything seems to be perfect in her life, until a new student arrives at her school. At first he is mean and ignores her, but eventually Sasha gets Ryder to open up and talk. They become friends but Sasha's foster parents don't approve of him, saying there is something 'dark' about him. This surprises her since they never seemed to care about any other boy she has brought home. Against their wishes, Sasha makes plans with Kiera and Ryder, to spend the weekend with him. After arriving to the hotel, within hours, there is a knock on the door, and the police are standing there to escort Ryder home. What happens after is something Sasha would never have imagined and she soon finds out that people aren't always as they appear to be--once again.
January 8, 2013
I was really curious about what would happen to Sasha after the first book. However, I got to about page 260, and I couldn't read anymore.
Sasha changed way too much in this book. She really started acting like Kiera, and I couldn't believe it. She also trusted Kiera, which I don't see how she ever could have done. I mean, Kiera did awful things to her, so it was totally unbelievable. At first, I thought she was just trying to make Kiera believe that she trusted her, but that wasn't the case.
The only thing I want to know is what happened to Ryder, but it's not worth making myself read this just to figure it out. I didn't care about any of the characters, and after reading some spoilers, I can say that what Donald does is totally predictable, and you could see it coming from a mile away. It's just sad, because the series could have turned out so much better.
Sasha changed way too much in this book. She really started acting like Kiera, and I couldn't believe it. She also trusted Kiera, which I don't see how she ever could have done. I mean, Kiera did awful things to her, so it was totally unbelievable. At first, I thought she was just trying to make Kiera believe that she trusted her, but that wasn't the case.
The only thing I want to know is what happened to Ryder, but it's not worth making myself read this just to figure it out. I didn't care about any of the characters, and after reading some spoilers, I can say that what Donald does is totally predictable, and you could see it coming from a mile away. It's just sad, because the series could have turned out so much better.
May 20, 2014
What an awful book! I wish the ghost writer would just read Flowers in the Attic and realize that's the kind of book he needs to write!
December 8, 2011
This was not a very good follow up to the first book. First off, what is with using the first and last name of Sasha's boyfriend, Ryder when talk to Kiera. For crying out loud Kiera is her foster sister so she doesn't need to mention Ryder to Sasha as Ryder Garfield. There was too much jumping around and incomplete thoughts.
They glossed over so many things that could have been further developed, Ryder's suicide for one. Really? He takes his life and no one really questions it? Sasha doesn't go anywhere near the funeral or even attempt to try and go as his girlfriend.
Donald March was another incomplete storyline that could have been built upon, you could see the lead up to it and then bam, he makes a feeble attempt at wrong doing, which I do not condone, but another failed storyline.
I was actually one of the few people who enjoyed the first book and this was just a sad disappoint of a book. This "ghost writer" needs to move on.
They glossed over so many things that could have been further developed, Ryder's suicide for one. Really? He takes his life and no one really questions it? Sasha doesn't go anywhere near the funeral or even attempt to try and go as his girlfriend.
Donald March was another incomplete storyline that could have been built upon, you could see the lead up to it and then bam, he makes a feeble attempt at wrong doing, which I do not condone, but another failed storyline.
I was actually one of the few people who enjoyed the first book and this was just a sad disappoint of a book. This "ghost writer" needs to move on.
November 28, 2011
Cloudburst, Storms #2, by V.C. Andrews
Grade: D
“How I longed for someone with not only wisdom to give me but true, real, and deep love.”
Cloudburst is the second book of V.C. Andrews Storms series. Cloudburst takes place three years after Family Storms left off with Sasha now a senior in high school, Kiera is off at college and the Marches are off making and spending money. Sasha is now very popular at school and has kind of taken on some of Kiera’s not so nice qualities when dealing with friends and boys. Kiera and Sasha are now friends and Sasha goes to Kiera for advice on almost everything including what Sasha should do about the new boy at school who has shaken things up not only at school but in the March house.
The Storms series is meant to be for young adults but as an adult reader I was shocked at the topics and the way the are discussed in these books. Everything from rape, drugs, suicide and molestation is takes place but it’s not really talked about in great detail. There are hardly ever any consequences for anyone’s actions and because everyone is rich they just go on with their lives without dealing with the major problems that occur.
Sasha used to be homeless before Kiera, the March’s daughter, hit Sasha and her mother while driving under the influence. Sasha’s mother was killed and the March’s became her foster parents. Kiera was ordered into therapy and turned around and did a really horrible thing to Sasha and overdosed on drugs. Now three years later everything is just fine and everyone’s happy and no one cares to remember that Kiera is a sociopath. Sasha trusts Kiera again and Kiera does everything she can to destroy her and the life she has built.
I really hated this book and actually hated it more then I did then Family Storms. I found that I really disliked Sasha in this book. She turned into everyone that she hated and let Kiera influence how she treats everyone. The fact that Kiera almost destroyed her life three years earlier never even crosses her mind and then she is so shocked when she does it again. I would never want my young child especially a young girl to read this book and think that if you have money you can do whatever you want and never have to suffer any consequences or go to jail or rehab which is where everyone in this book needs to go.
I will not be reading anymore of this series. I find the books to be very frustrating and I think that if you are going to write about tough topics, especially for young readers, you need to make them know that these topics are not okay and that you could end up dead, in rehab or jail.
Grade: D
“How I longed for someone with not only wisdom to give me but true, real, and deep love.”
Cloudburst is the second book of V.C. Andrews Storms series. Cloudburst takes place three years after Family Storms left off with Sasha now a senior in high school, Kiera is off at college and the Marches are off making and spending money. Sasha is now very popular at school and has kind of taken on some of Kiera’s not so nice qualities when dealing with friends and boys. Kiera and Sasha are now friends and Sasha goes to Kiera for advice on almost everything including what Sasha should do about the new boy at school who has shaken things up not only at school but in the March house.
The Storms series is meant to be for young adults but as an adult reader I was shocked at the topics and the way the are discussed in these books. Everything from rape, drugs, suicide and molestation is takes place but it’s not really talked about in great detail. There are hardly ever any consequences for anyone’s actions and because everyone is rich they just go on with their lives without dealing with the major problems that occur.
Sasha used to be homeless before Kiera, the March’s daughter, hit Sasha and her mother while driving under the influence. Sasha’s mother was killed and the March’s became her foster parents. Kiera was ordered into therapy and turned around and did a really horrible thing to Sasha and overdosed on drugs. Now three years later everything is just fine and everyone’s happy and no one cares to remember that Kiera is a sociopath. Sasha trusts Kiera again and Kiera does everything she can to destroy her and the life she has built.
I really hated this book and actually hated it more then I did then Family Storms. I found that I really disliked Sasha in this book. She turned into everyone that she hated and let Kiera influence how she treats everyone. The fact that Kiera almost destroyed her life three years earlier never even crosses her mind and then she is so shocked when she does it again. I would never want my young child especially a young girl to read this book and think that if you have money you can do whatever you want and never have to suffer any consequences or go to jail or rehab which is where everyone in this book needs to go.
I will not be reading anymore of this series. I find the books to be very frustrating and I think that if you are going to write about tough topics, especially for young readers, you need to make them know that these topics are not okay and that you could end up dead, in rehab or jail.
February 22, 2012
This is the second and probably last book in this series. In the first book, (which I read so long ago its a distant memory) Sasha and her mother were homeless and living in a box on the beach. Her mother was an alcoholic and was hit and kileld by a car driven by the March's daughter Kiera. Kiera then made Sasha's life miserable after she was taken in by this rich family.
In this book, Kiera is away at school and Sasha is now a senior in a private, very expensive school. She is the most popular girl in the school as well, but her head is on straight.
The tragedy, (as there always is one in a VC Andrews novel) begins when Ryder Garfield and his sister Summer are enrolled in her school. They have famous parents and Sasha is instantly taken w/ Ryder. He doesn't talk to anyone in school and seems very snotty when he does speak a few words in her direction.
Once she gets to know and understand Ryder, they're like mirror images of eachother. They understand eachother. Unfortunately, Sasha's foster father, Donald March doesn't take to him when they meet and doesn't want her to have anything to do with him.
Enter Kiera, who is away at school and invites Sasha up for the weekend. She tells her to bring Ryder as well. This is where I'll stop with the synopsis because you as the reader will want to keep reading the book on your own to see what happens.
I really liked this book, as I do w/ 99.9% of all VC Andrews stories. A little bit of romance, a little bit of tragedy and hopefully some resolve at the end. That's good storytelling and this one won't leave any VC fan disappointed. I'm very much looking forward to the second book in the vampire series that comes out next month. How I've missed reading VC Andrews, (because I've already read every one of her books). I can only hope there are many more to come!
In this book, Kiera is away at school and Sasha is now a senior in a private, very expensive school. She is the most popular girl in the school as well, but her head is on straight.
The tragedy, (as there always is one in a VC Andrews novel) begins when Ryder Garfield and his sister Summer are enrolled in her school. They have famous parents and Sasha is instantly taken w/ Ryder. He doesn't talk to anyone in school and seems very snotty when he does speak a few words in her direction.
Once she gets to know and understand Ryder, they're like mirror images of eachother. They understand eachother. Unfortunately, Sasha's foster father, Donald March doesn't take to him when they meet and doesn't want her to have anything to do with him.
Enter Kiera, who is away at school and invites Sasha up for the weekend. She tells her to bring Ryder as well. This is where I'll stop with the synopsis because you as the reader will want to keep reading the book on your own to see what happens.
I really liked this book, as I do w/ 99.9% of all VC Andrews stories. A little bit of romance, a little bit of tragedy and hopefully some resolve at the end. That's good storytelling and this one won't leave any VC fan disappointed. I'm very much looking forward to the second book in the vampire series that comes out next month. How I've missed reading VC Andrews, (because I've already read every one of her books). I can only hope there are many more to come!
November 15, 2011
Sasha Porter came from no money. That all changed when Kiera March high on drugs ran into Sasha and her mother with her car. Unfortunately, Sasha’s mother was killed. Sasha was injured but than the March’s brought Sasha into their home. Mrs. March tried to turn Sasha into her other lost daughter. This upset Kiera to the point that she tried to kill Sasha.
Flash to the present. Kiera moved away. Sasha is still living with the March’s. Sasha is trying to get on with her life. Things just got more interesting. Ryder Garfield is the new guy in town.
Cloudburst is book two of the Storms books. I have not read book one but with the references in the beginning, it was not hard to quickly figure out what had happened and get caught up. I was excited to try out this new series as I have enjoyed VC Andrews’s books. To be honest, I found myself having a hard time getting into this book. I tried several times. I would read a few pages or even a chapter and than put it down. The story moved very slowly. There was not enough suspense and intrigue that I came to like from VC Andrews’s books. Sasha had this obsession with trying to get Ryder to like her, though he did not give her the time of day in the beginning. I wanted to yell at Sasha that Ryder was a jerk and to let him come to her. A gallant effort on trying to recreate VC Andrews but just missed the mark.
Flash to the present. Kiera moved away. Sasha is still living with the March’s. Sasha is trying to get on with her life. Things just got more interesting. Ryder Garfield is the new guy in town.
Cloudburst is book two of the Storms books. I have not read book one but with the references in the beginning, it was not hard to quickly figure out what had happened and get caught up. I was excited to try out this new series as I have enjoyed VC Andrews’s books. To be honest, I found myself having a hard time getting into this book. I tried several times. I would read a few pages or even a chapter and than put it down. The story moved very slowly. There was not enough suspense and intrigue that I came to like from VC Andrews’s books. Sasha had this obsession with trying to get Ryder to like her, though he did not give her the time of day in the beginning. I wanted to yell at Sasha that Ryder was a jerk and to let him come to her. A gallant effort on trying to recreate VC Andrews but just missed the mark.
December 17, 2011
3.5 Stars
When you're in the mood for some melodrama, there's no one better to turn to than VC Andrews. This book really delivers on the over the top family drama. While some of the story was a little predictable, especially the foster sister and foster father storylines, the rest was more dramatic than even what I thought would happen.
You'd think with a ghost writer writing under the VC Andrews name, that the storytelling would be subpar but this is just not the case. The writing is fast paced and really draws you in. I was turning the pages so fast with this book, and couldn't wait to see what happened next. The writing may be missing that special something that VC Andrews herself had, but it's still good writing.
Sure, a lot of the story is way over the top, and in some cases simplified too much. There were some awkward moments, but overall it was an engrossing story.
I wouldn't go into this book expecting the next great literary masterpiece, but as far as entertaining, over the top melodrama goes, it hits the mark.
book sent by publisher in exchange for honest review
reviewed for http://inthehammockblog.blogspot.com
When you're in the mood for some melodrama, there's no one better to turn to than VC Andrews. This book really delivers on the over the top family drama. While some of the story was a little predictable, especially the foster sister and foster father storylines, the rest was more dramatic than even what I thought would happen.
You'd think with a ghost writer writing under the VC Andrews name, that the storytelling would be subpar but this is just not the case. The writing is fast paced and really draws you in. I was turning the pages so fast with this book, and couldn't wait to see what happened next. The writing may be missing that special something that VC Andrews herself had, but it's still good writing.
Sure, a lot of the story is way over the top, and in some cases simplified too much. There were some awkward moments, but overall it was an engrossing story.
I wouldn't go into this book expecting the next great literary masterpiece, but as far as entertaining, over the top melodrama goes, it hits the mark.
book sent by publisher in exchange for honest review
reviewed for http://inthehammockblog.blogspot.com
February 22, 2012
CloudBurst is the second book in the V.C. Andrews March Family Series. Whenever I begin a V.C. Andrews book, I know that I am about to embark upon a journey filled with trials and tribulations. CloudBurst is no exception. I read Family Storms before reading CloudBurst and I recommend that all readers do the same. Sasha Porter, the protagonist, is a 14 year old girl in the first book, who is living on the street’s with her mother. On one stormy night, Sasha’s life forever changes when she and her mother are struck by a car. Her mother is killed instantly, and although injured, Sasha survives. She is soon taken in by the mysterious and wealthy March family. Complications arise when Mrs. March attempts to make Sasha, both figuratively and literally, fill the shoes of her deceased youngest daughter. Add to the fact that, Kiera March, the March’s oldest daughter is the one responsible for Sasha’s mother’s death and you have a potentially hazardous situation. Sasha endures horrendous occurrences in Family Storms, but it is CloudBurst in which she is pushed to the brink of disaster...
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July 10, 2013
I liked the second half of this book very much and I am a bit disappointed that there is not a 3rd March Family book. I presume that the series ended given it has been a few years since the publication. I honestly believe that there was potential for a 3rd book, in particular involving Ryder and Donald March. I found the ending too happily ever after and it all wrapped up a bit too quick. I hope that the Estate of VC Andrews works to get the ghostwriter back on track with series more akin to the first few published (aka The Cutler Family - Dawn; Ruby's series) in the future.
August 25, 2018
Sasha Porter is slowly putting her past trauma behind her, taken in by the wealthy family of the daughter that caused a traumatic accident.
Sasha is now beautiful, academically gifted and more popular than ever before, everything is all the same, until she meets Ryder who, like her, carries a load of demons.
A fast paced novel and I managed to finish it in one sitting.
Didn't see the plot twist in Ryder's death, which definitely shocked me.
5 stars!
Sasha is now beautiful, academically gifted and more popular than ever before, everything is all the same, until she meets Ryder who, like her, carries a load of demons.
A fast paced novel and I managed to finish it in one sitting.
Didn't see the plot twist in Ryder's death, which definitely shocked me.
5 stars!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 27, 2019
Trashtastic.
February 8, 2012
I haven’t read V.C. Andrews since Flowers in the Attic, a long long time ago. But when presented with the opportunity to check out some of her new books, I was intrigued.
drey’s thoughts:
Sasha Porter lost her mother in an accident one rainy night, and before she knows it, she’s living the life of a very rich little girl – with the family of the girl responsible for her mother’s death. The March family dynamics are complicated, though, and her foster sister Kiera is one teenager I would not have wanted to hang around with any more than I absolutely had to.
But Sasha hangs in there, and I’m not sure why. At the end of the first book in the series, Family Storms, I would’ve told the Marches to take their guilt and stuff it, and to spend their money getting Kiera a conscience. Of course, that would’ve been a little bit too simplistic, as all children’s personalities and behavior has at part of its root their parents’ actions.
In Cloudburst, it seems as though Kiera has turned a new leaf. She’s away at college, and Sasha can focus on building her relationships at school. Except it seems as though she’s turning into a mini-Kiera (without the complete bitchiness)… Then Sasha meets a boy. And finds out that everything’s (still) a mirage, at least where it concerns Kiera and the Marches. Why oh why does she still trust these people?
I have to say that I didn’t love Cloudburst, because I really didn’t care that much for any of the characters. Even Sasha – I felt bad for her experiences, but even then I didn’t care for the person she turned out to be. Maybe I’m too critical?
drey’s rating: Ok
drey’s thoughts:
Sasha Porter lost her mother in an accident one rainy night, and before she knows it, she’s living the life of a very rich little girl – with the family of the girl responsible for her mother’s death. The March family dynamics are complicated, though, and her foster sister Kiera is one teenager I would not have wanted to hang around with any more than I absolutely had to.
But Sasha hangs in there, and I’m not sure why. At the end of the first book in the series, Family Storms, I would’ve told the Marches to take their guilt and stuff it, and to spend their money getting Kiera a conscience. Of course, that would’ve been a little bit too simplistic, as all children’s personalities and behavior has at part of its root their parents’ actions.
In Cloudburst, it seems as though Kiera has turned a new leaf. She’s away at college, and Sasha can focus on building her relationships at school. Except it seems as though she’s turning into a mini-Kiera (without the complete bitchiness)… Then Sasha meets a boy. And finds out that everything’s (still) a mirage, at least where it concerns Kiera and the Marches. Why oh why does she still trust these people?
I have to say that I didn’t love Cloudburst, because I really didn’t care that much for any of the characters. Even Sasha – I felt bad for her experiences, but even then I didn’t care for the person she turned out to be. Maybe I’m too critical?
drey’s rating: Ok
December 15, 2011
After reading Family Storms, the first book in this series, I was very excited to hear that a sequel was coming out. I am very disappointed with said sequel.
It's been a few years since all the events took place in Family Storms. Sasha is a senior, Kiera is in college, and things have changed. I was stunned at how Sasha changed. I did not like her character in the beginning very well at all, almost like she became a weaker version of Kiera. I was also baffled at how much Sasha put her trust in Kiera considering the events of the last book. Sasha just didn't . . . seem like the type to become the queen bee at her school, either. I am glad that she often thought of her mother and her past though. I thought her character got better as the book went on.
It took me until about chapter five or six (when Ryder showed up) to show any interest in this book. It seemed to be very boring until then. I liked Ryder a lot though, with his witty comebacks and mysterious personality. Even so, I still only thought that this book was okay. I felt it was very lacking for a V.C. Andrews book. It wasn't as bad as Daughters of Darkness, but I felt there wasn't much here. This book seemed to drag on and I found myself pushing myself just so I could finish this book because I am a big fan of VCA and anything related to her books.
I hope that the next VCA book will be better. I just didn't really enjoy this book at all, which is sad because of how good I thought the first book was. It just lacked a lot.
It's been a few years since all the events took place in Family Storms. Sasha is a senior, Kiera is in college, and things have changed. I was stunned at how Sasha changed. I did not like her character in the beginning very well at all, almost like she became a weaker version of Kiera. I was also baffled at how much Sasha put her trust in Kiera considering the events of the last book. Sasha just didn't . . . seem like the type to become the queen bee at her school, either. I am glad that she often thought of her mother and her past though. I thought her character got better as the book went on.
It took me until about chapter five or six (when Ryder showed up) to show any interest in this book. It seemed to be very boring until then. I liked Ryder a lot though, with his witty comebacks and mysterious personality. Even so, I still only thought that this book was okay. I felt it was very lacking for a V.C. Andrews book. It wasn't as bad as Daughters of Darkness, but I felt there wasn't much here. This book seemed to drag on and I found myself pushing myself just so I could finish this book because I am a big fan of VCA and anything related to her books.
I hope that the next VCA book will be better. I just didn't really enjoy this book at all, which is sad because of how good I thought the first book was. It just lacked a lot.
July 21, 2018
Sasha Porter is continuing to heal from the accident caused by the daughter of Jordan and Donald March. The accident, which was caused by their daughter Keira, resulted in the death of her mother. Sasha is making her way in Pacifica Highschool, though it is a culture that is foreign to her due to the entitlement of the students and the gossip which pervades the school. The school year takes a turn for the better when she meets the new student Ryder Garfield the son of a famous acting couple. Ryder and Sasha form a bond that develops over the loss they have experienced and their estrangement from their families; Ryder's parents and disturbed sister, and Sasha's loss of both her parents. The March family though supportive and generous are controlling and in Donald's case overly familiar with Sasha in ways that make her uncomfortable. As Ryder and Sasha's relationship builds, Keira's menace causes a devastating event and uncovers dark family secrets. This sequel to Family Storms, the first in the Storms series is fast paced and enjoyable.
June 6, 2012
Lately, my interest in VC Andrews has waned but mostly because the ghostwriter has seriously slacked on making the stories different from the Andrews stories already written. The cover of the book typically states that the story is as shocking as a past Andrews novel, usually the Dollanganger series, but they are never as impressive. I wish I could say that this one was different. I keep reading these stories because I hope that I'll be awed and shocked and proved wrong but it has yet to happen. This book was no exception. I like the character because she had a serious shift from the first novel to the second. She turned, in my opinion, to a snot. I liked it because she was less of a goody goody. The ending left me a bit surprised but for the most part, this book was pretty predictable. I look forward to the day that the writer learns how to be unpredictable, giving the readers a nice surprise instead of the typical. Still, this one was better than the previous one, but only slightly so.
March 21, 2012
For being a V.C. Andrews book, this book did not live up to the other books this author has wrote. It was all over the place and it really didn´t go anywhere throughtout the whole story. I just didn't think that this book is up to par with her other novels and I was disappointed by it.
December 5, 2011
After having lost her mother and having lived the life of being homeless, Sasha Porter, is beginning to get used to living the life of the rich and famous. After losing her mother to a car accident that fault lay at the hands of her foster parents blood daughter, she was taken in and given a chance at having anything her dreams desired, except for the one thing she wanted the most was unreachable, having her mother back. She attends an exceptional school for the rich and enjoy being one of the popular people whom the other girls admire and wish they could have just an ounce of their own fantasies come to reality. There she meets a boy and falls in love, but in the end there is tradgedy when the only person she comes to trust and love leaves her too, in a way that by now she should have become use to.
May 28, 2012
While the first book in this series followed the V.C.Andrews formula pretty closely, I was surprised to see this novel take a departure. For those familiar with V.C. Andrews we have come to expect a protagonist that is naive, poor and seen as a goody two-shoes, and when suddenly thrust into a world of riches is still able to maintain her unassuming personality. While Sasha has these qualities in the first novel, by the time we get to the 2nd novel, she has gained the outward personality of her wealthy peers. This was a nice change for me as unlike with most of the other Andrews' novels It made me unsure of how Sasha would react to some of the challenges thrown her way. While this is certainly not one of her best novels, I would recommend this to other V.C. Andrews fans simply for the fact that you will get to see a different sort of character than you are used to.
December 23, 2012
I really enjoyed this book because I liked that Sasha was older than in the last one. The only thing I really found lacking was the predictability of the plot. I had my guesses from the beginning what would happen to Sasha with her relationships with both Keira and Donald. I was surprised where Ryder’s storyline went and I felt bad for Sasha because she couldn’t catch a break. This had to be one of the only VC Andrews books where I actually ended up liking the mother. Jordan was a different character in this book compared to the last one. I thought she would end up selfish and careless in relation to her family especially her children but she wasn’t. I was thrilled that she chose Sasha and saw for herself that Sasha wasn’t to blame for anything. I wish the book was a little longer only because I wanted to know what happened to Sasha when she got older!
July 9, 2016
This book takes place three years after the first book is based. I found that it was a hard one to rate because it wasn’t all I thought it would be. There was suspense but I was prepared for all of it. I just sat there reading and waiting for what I expected to happen to really happen. All in all not one of VC Andrews best works. It was obvious that this is one that someone else helped her finish and I just didn’t find it interesting. The best part of this book for me was seeing the main character grow into who she was going to be. The way we all do eventually.
THANK YOU VC ANDREWS FOR A BRAVEHEARTED YOUNG WOMAN FIGHTING HER WAY THROUGH THE WORLD OF THE RICH AND SPOILED!
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
For more reviews and spoilers visit www.booksmyquietfriends.blogspot.com
THANK YOU VC ANDREWS FOR A BRAVEHEARTED YOUNG WOMAN FIGHTING HER WAY THROUGH THE WORLD OF THE RICH AND SPOILED!
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
For more reviews and spoilers visit www.booksmyquietfriends.blogspot.com
January 9, 2016
And the saga continues... So the spoiled girl moves on, but her motives don't change. The girl taken in has her own drama with a new rich boy that takes a devastating turn. The mother comes out of her funk a bit and divorces the husband also to find out that he has taken a bit of a fancy for the young lady. I enjoy the twists, but was surprised by how in the first book there was so much focus on comparing the main character with the dead daughter, thinking this was going to go into some suspense thriller that usually happens in previous novels and did not. Overall this miniserie was pretty good with some interesting things, which I am so sure happens to many of the rich and famous that in real life we don't see in the headlines.
August 13, 2012
I loved this series even though it didnt quite follow the V.C.Andrews library. There was no sense of horror to the series as usually present in V.C.Andrews books. It also didn't follow the theme of a yonge girl being at the mercy of a vicious guardian but rather just a bitchy new 'sister'.
In Cloudburst I found myself bawling, I really liked Ryder and things turned out so bad. I also found myself wanting to go through the book to strangle Keira! I thought Keira had become good. There should have been more emphasis as to what went on with the dad, that part was too short, the only part that followed the V.C.Andrews library.
A bit too happy of an ending though.
In Cloudburst I found myself bawling, I really liked Ryder and things turned out so bad. I also found myself wanting to go through the book to strangle Keira! I thought Keira had become good. There should have been more emphasis as to what went on with the dad, that part was too short, the only part that followed the V.C.Andrews library.
A bit too happy of an ending though.
October 29, 2011
2nd in the series..the latest books must have gotten a new ghostwriter or something..this book drove me nuts because every chapter told you about a "..darkness that was coming, but she had no idea just yet..." and it wasnt as dark as a orignial VC andrews book..in the old ones, isntead of the foster mother stopping the foster father from raping her, he woulda raped her, and planted the blame on her somehow causing the foster mother to throw her in the dungeon somewhere with nothing to eat but lard or something.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 30, 2011
This is #2 in a series & you pretty much need to read the 1st one to get what's going on in the book. Didn't enjoy this as much as I thought I would. Seems like this author is a lot of the same screwed up families, just with different names. Sasha was fostered out in the first book to a very rich family after their daughter hits & kills her mother. Sasha & mother were homeless & living on a beach. Her lifestyle has completely changed and she is going to a la-di-da private school & new boy comes in that has famous actor parents and everything evolves from there.
August 28, 2014
This book was in my closet for several years. Finally decided to read it and get it over with. I believe that the book was intended for a much younger audience than me. It was about a high school girl. I found it not very interesting. Lots of high school clicks and silly stuff going on. Awful lot of sex for high schoolers. Main character is a foster child of wealthy Californians. Their daughter is insanely jealos of the foster daughter and manipulates circumstances to cause the parents to distrust her. Pretty ugly stuff I won't go out of my way to pick up another by this author.
March 12, 2018
I really like V.C. Andrews so when I saw my sister had this series I asked to read the books. This is the second in the series. I really liked the first one and was not disappointed with this one. Sasha is still living with the March family and thriving in school and learning to live with the rich and famous. Sasha meets a troubled boy and becomes friends with him. This is the story of their relationship and Sasha still trying to become part of the March family. I really enjoyed the story and found myself not wanting to put it down.
April 19, 2014
The cool thing about this author is that even after a completely horrible ending I can still say I'm glad I read the book. What I don't like about this book was how little Shasha came out with. After everything she'd been through she ends up going to even more heartbreak. I must say she should've seen this betrayal coming though, especially after the first book! It was a very good book as far as heartbreaking romances go but I wouldn't recommend it if you're looking for a happy ending.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 18, 2014
Cloudburst is about a teenage girl called Sasha Porter. She is the foster child of the wealthy Mr and Mrs March. She has had some bad experiences with love in the past but when she meets Ryder Garfield she hopes this could change.
I enjoyed Cloudburst. It was engaging and I was hooked from early in the book, wanting to know what was going to happen. It wasn't predictable which enjoyed. I would recommend this book to teenage girls who like the chicklit kind of genre.
I enjoyed Cloudburst. It was engaging and I was hooked from early in the book, wanting to know what was going to happen. It wasn't predictable which enjoyed. I would recommend this book to teenage girls who like the chicklit kind of genre.
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