Blog Tour: Flash by Barbara Morgenroth [Review]

Flash

Author: Barbara Morgenroth

Published: September 29th 2011

Publisher: DashingBook

Number of Pages: 175 more or less.

Format: eBook

Source: Author

Purchase: Amazon, B&N

When Kip “I lied about being 18 for so long, it seemed like the truth” Chanin, arrives in Los Angeles with her mother who wants to work in Hollywood, it doesn’t take her long to understand that this is a factory town and the product is an illusion. To help support her two-person family, Kip grits her teeth, puts aside being a news photographer and becomes a paparazzi.

Kip’s first photo is of Alex Milne, the handsome and volatile young actor. That one photo changes both their lives. An evening being detained in the Beverly Hills Police Station expands Kip’s world and opportunities both wanted and unwanted confront her. To lasting shock and pain, Kip learns the identity of her father and she sets out to solve a murder that’s been gossiped about in Hollywood for the last 80 years, tainting the Milne family to the present day.

One thing Kip learns to her core is that life is real even in a city dedicated to creating illusions.

My Review

Pro/Con

Well, let's begin with the fact that I LOVE books that are set in American big cities: they just make me dream! Moreover I think that Flash well-described the reality of life for famous people, but also for those who are too concerned in getting fame. I think the author created an original story, but also very risky because nowadays it is difficult to become recognized authors, unless you write on the paranormal / fantasy genre. I think Flash was a great read but still, I think there were some aspects of the book that needed to be deepened. First, I think it was necessary to give a little more space to Kip, the protagonist; of course, her personality emerges during the book, especially by the way she reacts to the luxury of life in LA, but sometimes I couldn't understand her and above all I can't picture an imagine of her, because I can't recall a part of the book where she was physically described. Second, the ancient mystery of the murder (that sees the Milne family involved), even if this is a minor problem because I'm sure that the author will develop this story in the sequels of Flash. Still, I was very interested in this mystery, and even if I knew the solution couldn't be given in the first book, I hoped the author would have focused a little more on it. In general I think that the book needed a little more twists, well distributed throughout the whole book; infact, the last part was the most interesting, because it was more enticing and engaging - speaking the true, the ending was really good, it really makes me want to read the sequel!

Protagonist

Speaking of the characters, I really liked Kip because she really was alternative (and a little cynical!)! 

 I mean, what kind of girl wouldn't have been haunted by LA? I would have been the first! Instead, she remains herself, and what I loved the most is that, even in front of Alex's flirting, she stays the same; he's an actor so it's easy to imagine what kind of girls he's used to hang with, nevertheless Kip, with her simple and genuine personality, succeeded in making him fall in love. (at least I hope!)  I also like how mature she's for her age, and the fact that she's practically the one who carries on her mother. 

Secondary characters

Alex was nothing special, except for the fact that it was interesting how the author focused on the negative aspects of his character: stubborn, impulsive, a little irascible sometimes. The character I liked most is Bay's: I imagine her as a strong, middle-aged handy-woman, that replaces the mother Kip never had. She has not an easy personality and she's not easy to deal with, that's why the relationship she shares with Kip is even more special, real. They become inseparable, especially because they share the same passion: photography. Bay will be the only one who will really understand Kip and comfort her when she needed her mother most.

Point of view

I really appreciated the author's choice to adopt Kip's point of view, because she was not originary from LA, so it's funny to see things from her POV. It's interesting because by reading her point of view, LA is not as it is described in movies (the city of my dreams! *sighs*), it's full of scandals and compromises.

Rated 3.35

Favourite quotes:

"She was a sweet girl, kind-hearted and operated in a delightful world that didn't exist but where impossible dreams came true and people always had redeeming qualities no matter how poorly they treated her. And there was something deeply sorrowful about her brightness." (Kip's mother)

"Does it steal your soul to be photographed?"

Well, maybe. "No, of course not. It's just that my place is behind the camera not in front of it."

"I think you're a stabilizing influence for him. You're very mature for your age. He's very serious and very talented and obviously very fond of you."

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