Playing with Fire: A Bad Boy College Romance

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Fire symbolized beauty, fury, and rebirth, she explained. Too bad in my case, it symbolized nothing but my demise." Switch to Venice and Lorenzo who is a talented violinist and composer. Hitler and his SS agents terrorize the Jewish population and many are shipped to concentration camps or worse. Lorenzo was deeply in love when he was snatched away from his life and forced to play for the SS agents in the death camp. L.J. Shen weaved her magic wand on me within that very first chapter making me fall wholeheartedly in love with their story, these characters will forever have a space in my heart. My heart is full..

My biggest problem with this book was the ending. I HATED how the book ended. I actually needed to reflect on it for a few days before I could sit down to write a review. In Julia's case the solution seemed like nothing more than a cop out. I honestly cannot remember the last time that I was so thoroughly disappointed in the ending of a book. The part of the epilogue that attempted to pull the two stories together a little better was also a huge letdown. The title, Playing with Fire, is undoubtedly the most apt title ever. I completely understand why LJ Shen sat on it for what seemed like forever. Even the title evokes feelings and emotions...the most difficult part is that they change, morph, and adapt throughout the book. Just when you think you know...you have no idea. Lately this author has been a bit hit and miss for me when compared to her earlier works which I loved wholeheartedly to recents which have been just ok for me. But I've still read what she's released.The storyline in this was all over the pace, we had Julia who was worried about her 3-year-old, Lily, and then other chapters about the composer of a piece of music in 1938, and these chapters were really quite boring for me. Seeing as West St. Claire is so popular, keeping most of his peers at arm’s length was something of a conundrum. The chip he carries on his shoulder threw me off-kilter too, but I liked how he wiggled his way into Grace’s life and helped her step out of her comfort zone. What I found disturbing were his inner-thoughts, and it wasn’t until I got well into the read that I discovered why he felt as he did. Do you think heroine will be bullied by him? She may suffer and struggle to make money for ten years while he is living his best life all because of him. Shit, I’m crossing my fingers for something like that, that’s a total redeemable act, he may grovel for a couple of months so yesss book boyfriend coming. Everybody knows us women get off on being treated like shit.

The book lost me a little when the story shifted to tell Lorenzo's story. I am not always a fan of books with a dual story line. This is one of those cases where the two stories just don't fit together very well. I liked Lorenzo's story just as much as I did Julia's but the thread connecting the pieces was thin at best. Lorenzo is a Jewish musician living in Venice during World War II. The parts of the story that focused on Lorenzo really were often heartbreaking.

The plot is quite unique alternating between past and present times and in some way the story reminded me of one of my favorite books, Letters from the Lost by Iona Grey, https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... Poignantly written, this book showcases the indomitable human spirit. It encapsulates the strength one individual can possess, and it holds so many lessons about letting go, moving on, being happy, and living fully. It is without a doubt one of my favorite reads of 2020 and will be a reread for years to come. I was in love with West St. Claire. Madly. Wholly. Obsessively, even. He was the most complex man I’d ever met—sweet, caring, kind, responsible. But also violent, aggressive, offhanded, and cruel."

Grace and West are a dream, a goal, and an ideal. Their paths are chaotic, crumbled, and filled with shadows but when they merge and become one- it is breathtaking. Before I give my review I have to say that I don't read small-town romances just because I have never been interested in them, but when I heard LJ was writing one I knew I had to give it a shot.

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Shen has delivered the unexpected and in my book, easily one of the best novels she has written so far. Putting her unique stamp on a trope I love, each of the protagonists’ emotional journeys is a tale in itself. And the title that conveys layers of meaning would consequently show its perfection. Among other things that grabbed my attention was the well-designed book cover, setting the tone to this gritty story. But hey, maybe an inexperienced hero can be cute, he can be a false whore!!!!! So don’t you go losing your virginity with any other guy moonshine, maybe there is a sunshine out there wanting him and you would suffer if he only realizes he doesn’t want to have sex with her mid thrust at your’s special place.

This is one of the best memoirs I've ever read. Actually, it's one of the best books I've ever read. I've read a lot of memoirs and biographies, and this one is brutally honest -- heartbreakingly so. Este libro, oh Dios, nada podría haberme preparado para la explosión de emociones que es este libro, han pasado meses desde que lo leí y todavía no puedo olvidarlo. ¡Con una prosa exquisita y personajes excepcionales, L.J. Shen nos regala una historia poderosa, única y emotiva, tan diferente a lo que ella ha escrito hasta el momento pero tan increíble, me dejó sin palabras! i didn't hate it but i also didn't love it, mostly, i just didn't feel anything. but that's probably a me thing i don't know.MAGNIFICENT! It was heartfelt and breathtakingly emotional and one of the best stories she has ever written! A number of other reviewers here complain that Fleury is an arrogant, self-centered jerk who doesn't actually own up to his mistakes. I didn't get that impression at all-- or rather, I agree that he comes across as an arrogant, self-centered jerk, but he's also an arrogant, self-centered jerk who chose to make himself exceptionally vulnerable and is taking responsibility for (most of) his mistakes, both as part of his own healing process and to serve as a role model to others. It may be that some readers find his arrogance so off-putting that they have a hard time perceiving that such a person could also believe themselves to be responsible for their own actions. But that's what I saw, and I felt that this combination of arrogance and vulnerability made for a compelling and strangely sympathetic character.