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Playing with Fire #1
Embers
EMBERS, the first book in the Playing With Fire series of novellas… Emily Bowers is supposed to be having a relaxing summer vacation with her parents on Cape Cod. But almost immediately upon her arrival, mysterious strangers begin to appear, and dark family secrets start to get revealed.Emily’s very soul is in danger, and someone – or something – is coming to collect. And it turns out that Lucas, the hot, enigmatic boy whose family owns the house Emily’s staying in, may just be the only one who can help her escape a fate worse than death…. From the authors who brought you the hit series The Witches of Santa Anna comes a paranormal romance series that proves that first impressions aren’t always what they seem, and that in the battle between good and evil, love is the only thing that matters... ***EMBERS is a novella of approximately 10,000 words***
37 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 6, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 10, 2011
Another short novella series by Lauren Barnholt!
I swear I am getting more and more addicted to all these short novellas by the day!
This first instalment follows Emily and her parents as they settle in to a rented house at the coast for the summer. Emily ends up getting invited to a party full of local teenagers by Lucas, whose father owns the house Emily's family are renting for the summer.
Things start to feel strange as soon as she is told not to use her debit card, and is given cash instead from her mum. Then there is an incident in the drug store where Emily ends up being part of an investigation into a so called insurance fraud.
Things so from strange to bad after she arrives at the party, and Emily just wants to be back home with her boyfriend.
I really loved this book, I can tell right away there is going to be A LOT of mystery involved in this series!
I swear I am getting more and more addicted to all these short novellas by the day!
This first instalment follows Emily and her parents as they settle in to a rented house at the coast for the summer. Emily ends up getting invited to a party full of local teenagers by Lucas, whose father owns the house Emily's family are renting for the summer.
Things start to feel strange as soon as she is told not to use her debit card, and is given cash instead from her mum. Then there is an incident in the drug store where Emily ends up being part of an investigation into a so called insurance fraud.
Things so from strange to bad after she arrives at the party, and Emily just wants to be back home with her boyfriend.
I really loved this book, I can tell right away there is going to be A LOT of mystery involved in this series!
December 14, 2011
These short novella are really not my thing but I will say that this one has caught my interest and I really cant wait to find out more in the second installement. Althought there really isnt a lot to discuss yet because this installement was only 88 pages long. It was just long enough to make me want to read the next book. So stay tuned and I will update after next book.
June 17, 2011
good start ....no middle .... no end...well hello 88 pgs on my ebook ....really?????
i read this book in like less than an hour... =(
i read this book in like less than an hour... =(
May 15, 2025
This novella is so full of teenaged angst and stupid drama it was like being force-fed one of those teen soap shows.
The overacting and sheer idiocy shone through every single interaction between characters.
I found our female main character, Em, utterly boring. The once fat, now thin and understatedly beautiful trope has been done TO DEATH! Just stop! Likening her to Lindsay Lohan in her hey day did nothing to warm her to me as the reader either. Just saying. Especially when it was repeated a couple more times, like the reader missed it the first time.
The jerky, arrogant male lead, Lucus or Luke, both names being used by different characters, who really isn’t a jerk but acts like it because he’s actually a wounded soul, has also been done to death and is, quite frankly, not enjoyable to read. Give your characters more credit, more personality and you might find your readers enjoy your work more.
The only thing that saved this from being a 1 star book was the mystery that came into play. It’s not enough to make me want to read any more of the story, but it was a marked improvement from the diatribe of teenage angst and idiocy.
Glad I got this one for free way back whenever.
A few things I noticed:
13% - random line break …call me // ‘Em’
38% - formatting issues around cut off sentence at the Tesco pharmacy parking lot.
95% - pretty sure she was wearing sandals not flip flops. Check continuity from earlier in story.
The overacting and sheer idiocy shone through every single interaction between characters.
I found our female main character, Em, utterly boring. The once fat, now thin and understatedly beautiful trope has been done TO DEATH! Just stop! Likening her to Lindsay Lohan in her hey day did nothing to warm her to me as the reader either. Just saying. Especially when it was repeated a couple more times, like the reader missed it the first time.
The jerky, arrogant male lead, Lucus or Luke, both names being used by different characters, who really isn’t a jerk but acts like it because he’s actually a wounded soul, has also been done to death and is, quite frankly, not enjoyable to read. Give your characters more credit, more personality and you might find your readers enjoy your work more.
The only thing that saved this from being a 1 star book was the mystery that came into play. It’s not enough to make me want to read any more of the story, but it was a marked improvement from the diatribe of teenage angst and idiocy.
Glad I got this one for free way back whenever.
A few things I noticed:
13% - random line break …call me // ‘Em’
38% - formatting issues around cut off sentence at the Tesco pharmacy parking lot.
95% - pretty sure she was wearing sandals not flip flops. Check continuity from earlier in story.
July 28, 2017
They synopsis for the book is misleading.
Parents acting shady, Emily is annoying, and what does Lucas and his ex girlfriend have to do with anything?
Then out of the blue at the end..dude appears with a picture..whatever.
Parents acting shady, Emily is annoying, and what does Lucas and his ex girlfriend have to do with anything?
Then out of the blue at the end..dude appears with a picture..whatever.
February 9, 2013
"Embers" is the first story in a series of novellas by Lauren Barnholdt. Emily is on summer vacation on the cape. When she and her family arrive at the house they are renting for the summer, she is shocked to find it is not a small cottage but Avery nice new home.
As Emily ties out into the backyard, she discovers the owner's son, Lucas cleaning the pool. When her mother finds them she immediately hatched a scheme to get Lucas to take Em to a party he is going to. What follows is an evening of arguments, unanticipated schemes and a fight.
This novella was very enjoyable and I must say I was very glad that the story did not end abruptly like The Witches of Santa Ana novellas did. I sm interested in proceeding on with the series at this point; but, first I need to make sure it is cost effective to do so. It doesn't make sense tor me to buy novellas that only represent about 3 chapters of an overall story when I would rather have sn entire book. I'll see how it goes. The Witches series is up to book 17 at this point and I am not willing to go there.
As Emily ties out into the backyard, she discovers the owner's son, Lucas cleaning the pool. When her mother finds them she immediately hatched a scheme to get Lucas to take Em to a party he is going to. What follows is an evening of arguments, unanticipated schemes and a fight.
This novella was very enjoyable and I must say I was very glad that the story did not end abruptly like The Witches of Santa Ana novellas did. I sm interested in proceeding on with the series at this point; but, first I need to make sure it is cost effective to do so. It doesn't make sense tor me to buy novellas that only represent about 3 chapters of an overall story when I would rather have sn entire book. I'll see how it goes. The Witches series is up to book 17 at this point and I am not willing to go there.
July 27, 2011
Looking forward to the next novella.
December 4, 2011
Another bite your nails to the quick novella series by Lauren Barnholdt! Can't wait to see what the deal is with Lucas and Emily's parents.
May 14, 2012
I read this in 20min....I mean it had a good story line so far. I just want to read the rest I guess.
June 29, 2012
Hmmmm. Looks like a book is a whole chapter in this series. Nothing really happens in this "chapter".
November 3, 2012
This is an interesting start to a new series. I'm seriously intrigued.
April 15, 2013
Way too short. I think the author should have combined the two books. Okay
October 21, 2013
I laughed a few times. I liked that it was short and I kind of like the characters enough to read the next one.
December 6, 2013
the beginning of the story ruin my mood..still it is very good story.worth reading it till the end but the ending make us wanted to really really wanted to read the book...walla suspend again.;(
August 20, 2014
enjoyed what I read - alittle disappointed that it was so short - just as it started getting exciting the book ends X_X I know its a series - just prefer longer books ;) not bad though!
March 23, 2015
very amusing I REALLY LIKED IT CAN'T WAIT FOR The next one ♥♥♥♥
April 1, 2012
Review to come!
October 29, 2012
Very quick read, Good but to short.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews