Blaze of Glory by M. Garzon – a Review

From Book Cover:
Last year, I had it all. Two jumpers on the show circuit, a lot of wins, and a lot of attention – the good kind. But now I have nothing. My life is circling the drain. The only spark of light that exists for me is my new, forbidden passion. If my stepfather finds out, he will kill me. My twin brother, my only blood relative in the world, has already begged me not to. But I can’t help myself. If it can’t be horses, it has to be this.

Review:

If that little book synopsis doesn’t have you wanting more, then maybe I can help, here’s what I thought of this wonderful book. 

I have to start off by saying Blaze of Glory by M. Garzon is one of the best YA books I’ve read thus far.  I can see why it’s touted to be a successful TV drama.  The story Garzon has created is a heartfelt, emotional one that had me riding my emotional roller coaster once again.  I was drawn into Garzon’s story from the very beginning, and it’s not just because I love horses.  The horses, show jumping, and polo in the story were just added bonuses for me.  Garzon drew me in from the get go with her writing, and characters.  One of the highlights for me was how real Garzon’s writing is.  It was as if I was part of the story, sitting on the ranch watching the events unfold.  I could feel the emotion of her characters pouring off the pages.  This is a powerful story that follows a teenage girl’s life(Tea) through an emotional journey that finds her navigating the waters between that of a teenager and becoming an adult. Through her journey Tea not only finds who she is as a show jumper, but also realizes that when it comes to what she truly wants(Jaden’s love), she isn’t afraid to go and get it, no matter what others may think. 

As I mentioned Blaze of Glory is about Tea Everson a seven-teen year old teenager.  She and her twin brother Seth have had their share of tragedies in their short life.  After their mom passes away, their stepfather Dec took over raising them.  Even though he’s strict with them, he does the best he can and what he thinks is right for them.  However, Tea has other ideas.  She’s a very independent, headstrong girl who acts first and thinks later.  Many times this part of her personality would get her into hot water with her step dad.  I really liked Tea as a character and found that the more I read the more I wanted to know about her.  Tea’s relationship with her brother is very real, loving, and emotional. They’re not just siblings but also the best of friends who are always there for one another.  That’s why when Tea starts to show feelings for their ‘cousin’ Jaden, Seth begins to worry that it could be more problematic and harmful to Tea then good.  With everything that has happened to Tea of late, Jaden is the only source of light in her life and she can’t help but be continually drawn to him. 

Jaden Foster is the nephew to Dec Everson and also a world class polo player.  He recently returns back to Canada and the ranch after spending a number of years abroad playing polo. He, Tea and Seth grew up like cousins thanks to Dec marrying Tea and Seth’s mom.  Having grown up together as family, one can see why Jaden could be seen as a forbidden passion for Tea.  Not only did they grow up as family, but Jaden is also older then Tea, 6 years older as he’s 23.  Even though Jaden is older then Tea he never treats her like a kid, yes he’s protective of her, but he understands her and also shares Tea’s love of horses.  It’s through this love of horses and understanding of Tea that Jaden is seeing Tea in a new light.  Knowing this could be a problem for their families Jaden tries to put distance between him and Tea, making them both miserable.  No matter how much he tries, he can’t seem to stay away from Tea, nor she from him.  In the end, it’s a useless battle and love wins out in the end.

The romance between Tea and Jaden is well written.  It’s a wonder to watch the two of them blossom as a couple and go from friends to romantic interests.  The way Ms. Garzon handles their romance is tastefully written and makes the reader root for Jaden and Tea.  With each turn of the page I wondered what sort of obstacle would surface next and would they finally confront each other, be honest about their feelings and put themselves out of their misery.  When Jaden and Tea finally come clean about their feelings for each other I couldn’t help but give a little cheer for them.  They are two characters who are meant to be and I can’t wait to read the next installment of their story.

As I said above, Blaze of Glory is excellently written, with well developed characters and storylines.  The story of Tea and Jaden is a beautifully emotional story to read and watch unfold on the canvas.  I enjoyed every moment of it and look forward to the next installment.  I want to see where Tea and Jaden are headed, will their family welcome their relationship or cause more heartache for our couple, will Jaden and Tea continue on in their respective horse riding sports.  The questions are endless and if Blaze of Glory is any indication to the type of stories and writing Ms. Garzon can deliver, then we are in for a treat with her next book.

Reviewed by Marcie

Copy provided by author.