Dual Book Review: Aflame (Fall Away #4) by Penelope Douglas

Title: Aflame (Fall Away #4)

Author: Penelope Douglas
Publication Date: April 21, 2015
Publisher: Berkley/Intermix/Penguin
Source: Publisher
Format: e-ARC
Age Group: Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance

       

The tables have turned. Now I have the power—and it’s his turn to beg…

Everyone wants to be me.

Maybe it’s the sway of my skirt or the way I flip my hair, but I don’t care. Even though their attention is the last thing I crave, I just can’t stop. I dominate the track, the speed rattles my bones, and the wind and the crowd screams my name.

I’m her. The girl driver. The queen of the race. And I’m surviving—something he thought I’d never do.

They all still talk about him. Did you see Jared Trent on T.V? What did you think of his last race, Tate? When is he coming back to town, Tate?

But I refuse to care too much. Because when Jared does come home, I won’t be here.

Tatum Brandt is gone. I’m someone new.

Perfect, just perfect!  I love the way Penelope wrapped up the series.  I honestly couldn't have asked for a better ending.  The Fall Away series has to be one of my top 5 all time favorite NA series.........ever.  I fell in love with the characters, the writing and everything else in between.  Once I started reading any of the books, I just couldn't put it down.   They are that addicting.  I really am going to miss them, but at least I know that I have them close by whenever I want to revisit them. 

Writing a review for the final book in a series is always hard because you don't want to give too much away.  Actually, I don't want to give anything away because I really want everyone to read this series. So, in order to avoid spoilers, I am going to do this review a little different.  I hope this encourages you to go out and start it!

ROMANCE?

Heck yeah!!! I mean, the "love" scenes are super hot and steamy!  

SUSPENSE?

Not so much in AFLAME, but the other books do have some twists and unexpected things. 

HUMOR?

Oh yeah, especially Madoc!  I love that guy.  He is such a smartass.  He always had me smiling and cracking up with his comments!  LOL  Fallon is a lucky girl!  

ARE THE CHARACTERS MEMORABLE?

I don't know about you, but what makes a book stand out for me are its characters.  If I can relate to them, picture them as real people and make me feel every single emotion they are going through, then I am instantly in love with that book.  And I have to say that the Fall Away series made me feel like that.  Aflame was just the icing on the cake.  Then ending was perfect and I hope that what Penelope tells us at the end is true.  *le sigh*

I am so sad to see this series come to an end.  But… if it truly must, I couldn’t be happier that Penelope Douglas finished it where it all began… with Jared and Tate.  

In the very first book of this series, Bully, we meet Jared Trent and Tatum Brandt, best friends since they were ten years old.  As children, they were inseparable and loved each other like brother and sister.  Their relationship remained that way until Jared went away one summer right before high school started.  When he returned, everything changed.  Especially his friendship with Tate.  I don’t really want to give too much away about that deliciously wonderful book because I highly recommend that it be read before reading Aflame, which is the continuation of Jared and Tate’s story. 

Each book was great in this series and can be read as a stand-alone, but to not read all of them, you would be missing out on the whole complete story and all of the fun and complex characters.   

What I also love about this series is that you never really say goodbye to any of the Shelburne Falls gang because throughout each book, they all remain a close-knit group.  Aflame is no different.  It felt like a reunion.  And to anyone who is a fan of this series, they will certainly appreciate that. Aflame is simply the cherry on top of a wonderfully written terrific story.