Torched Review

Torched
by Andrea Lynn Colt
Genre: YA Contemporary/Mystery
Format: Ebook sent to me for review by author in exchange for my honest opinion.
Midnight Minute: After being accused of a crime she didn't commit, cheerleader Rose stops her pranks and picks up her Sherlock Holmes cap.
From Goodreads:

Rose Whitfield's senior year just went up in smoke. Instead of having a blast with her best friend, her cheerleading squad, and her boyfriend Ryan, she's framed for arson. Popularity and criminal records don't mix, apparently.

Luckily, Rose knows who's framing her: Paxton Callaway. Paxton and Rose have spent years locked in a war of practical jokes. This time he's gone too far. Rose sets out to prove her innocence, win Ryan back, and take Paxton down hard.

Not necessarily in that order.

Excerpts and more at www.lynncolt.com

Midnight Thoughts:

~ Normally I get horrible book pitches for my website, authors or publishers who haven't bothered to look through my site and want me to read their mermaid porn sci fi non fiction autobiography, so I was super excited get Colt's email and then realize she actually did know what I like, and that this was a good fit for me to at least try.  That said, I still didn't expect it to be this good.  But I loved this book!
~ Rose is a cheerleader, which is not usually someone I can identify with, but she wasn't a stereo-type.  Her life is shallowly perfect, and it's quick to crumble once things go wrong for her- her friends, her boyfriend, her parents, everything is either stripped away or on shaky ground.
~ Everything that Rose went through had me super emotional.  Despite this being a YA Contemporary with mystery and humor, I was still physically ill over Rose's troubles.  There are so many consequences to the crime she's being framed for, and I was like a little kid blubbering in the corner, "But it's not fair!" Despite this, Rose handles everything so much better than I would have. 
~ I found Rose's family dynamic to be very fascinating, especially her relationship with her dad, who is way more into her mom than her mom is into her dad.  Relationships that are so very unbalanced are never good.
~ Rose's bestie in the beginning is Alina Rose, and once they end up on opposite sides of things, someone refers to their fighting as War of the Roses, which tickled me to no end.  
~ I really liked all the pranks Rose and Paxton had committed in the past (and some of Paxton's future ones), although they both come to realize their little prank war has hurt other people unintentionally. 
~ Like in real life, it's the people who stick around when the chips are down who are your true friends.  Hayley, Paxton's super sweet girlfriend, is one to the few people in school who doesn't jump on the Shun Rose bandwagon.  I was expecting to dislike her, but she's just a genuinely decent person. 
~ This book reminds me of what biatches high school girls can be.  I am so glad not to be in high school anymore.  Being 35 doesn't suck that bad in comparison. 
~ I loved Rose and Paxton!! They really reminded me of Jenna and Mattie's relationship in 13 Going on 30, even if the story parallels aren't identical, and Paxton hits his hottie potential much earlier on. 
~ Both Rose and Paxton, especially Paxton, put a lot of effort into their pranks, and you can tell the author must have had a lot of fun thinking them up.  
~ I honest to goodness drew a little heart on the page at the end of my notes.  As if to remind me how much I loved this book.
~ Rose made for a pretty good sleuth, but I can't say much about the plot without giving things away that will be more fun for you to read about and discover on your own.  It's a very fun, sexy YA mystery!

Timeless Characters:

Rose- type A teen, on the track to achieving all her goals until she gets framed for arson.
Paxton- former friend, boy next door, has an on-going prank war going with Rose- which makes him suspect #1, and hottie.
Ryan- equally over-achieving sexy boyfriend of Rose until she's accused to setting his boat on fire.
Alina- Popular mean girl who, until the arson, is Rose's bestie.  
Juliette- Paxton's younger sister.
Natalie- cheerleader and all around thorn in Rose's side.
Hayley- Paxton's incredibly sweet girlfriend, also a cheerleader. 
Georgette and Francesca- twins, one of who caused much woe to Rose's perfect high school life.
Beverly, aka BB- cast off friend of Alina's.
Cloudmonster- Rose's beloved car. I just really like the name. ;)

Midnight Moment:

This is a tiny bit SPOILERISH- so highlight to read-
When Paxton and Rose make out during the dinner party.  Super sexy!

Stop The Clock:

Torched is a fun, fast and totally fantastic contemporary YA!  I can totally recommend this to all my blogging besties.



Andrea Lynn Colt — Website |Andrea Colt

Torched gets a Midnight Book Rating of: