Review of Blooming After the Blaze

Post by **Rebecca De Figueiredo** » 15 Feb 2025, 03:13

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Blooming After the Blaze" by Jamie Lee Carrie.]

5 out of 5 stars

Share This Review

Title: Blooming After The Blaze
Author: Jamie Lee Carrie

A life that started perfectly with love and happiness all around her, good food on the table and typical childhood innocent trust in everyone is soon marred by that gut-wrenching phrase: sexual abuse. Paedophiles were living close by, and they chose little Jamie. From here, her life was harrowing and stormy, rife with battery, addiction, depression and more. She was an innocent soul who only wanted love and peace. Happiness was found in the form of her children, yet keeping them fed, clothed and nurtured in often extreme conditions was very hard. Eventually, she found herself on the wrong side of the law.

She found peace and strength in her time abroad. The book is punctuated by moments in Egypt, where she finds inner serenity. Here, the tone changes, and the reader feels a sense of gladness and relief for her.

The book is fictional, yet it parallels the lives of so many in America (and probably elsewhere), which is sad. As she makes mistake after mistake, I want to take her 'off the page' and tell her to reconsider what she is about to do.

Jamie Lee Carrie's prose can be beautiful. As the book nears the end, there is a strong feeling of tranquillity and reflection, and the descriptions are deep and immersive.

Sometimes, the book is difficult to read due to the extreme situations surrounding her.

I enjoyed the note at the beginning of the book, describing flowers that only bloom after a fire: Pyrogenic Obligate Flowers. This irony befits the book and fits in with the appropriate book title. I also loved the cover illustration.

The editing was perfect. There are some graphic sexual descriptions and profanity, but thankfully, considering the book's content, it was kept to a minimum. I enjoyed this read and found nothing to dislike. I will award five out of five stars and recommend it to all adult readers.

******
Blooming After the Blaze
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

Kelvin Omollo · Post by **Kelvin Omollo** » 16 Feb 2025, 12:08

It's true Jamie is an example of many people in real life. Life struggles and circumstances can really push people in bad places. I believe there is an inspiration in the book.

Louis Donald · Post by **Louis Donald** » 17 Feb 2025, 05:53

Jamie’s journey sounds heartbreaking, but the moments of peace in Egypt bring some relief. The title and flower symbolism make it even more powerful.

Pearl Flourish · Post by **Pearl Flourish** » 20 Feb 2025, 08:22

Sounds like a heartbreaking yet ultimately powerful story of resilience. The connection to flowers that bloom after fire is a beautiful metaphor for survival and growth after trauma.

George Bastem · Post by **George Bastem** » 25 Feb 2025, 09:36

A heartbreaking yet ultimately uplifting story of resilience. The contrast between pain and healing is powerful, and the symbolism of blooming after devastation is beautifully fitting. Sounds like a tough but meaningful read.

Mark Lazarus · Post by **Mark Lazarus** » 27 Mar 2025, 05:46

This sounds like a deeply emotional and intense read, one that explores trauma, resilience, and eventual healing. Stories like this can be difficult to get through due to the heavy subject matter, but they also offer important perspectives on survival and strength. The contrast between the protagonist’s struggles and the peace she finds later in life adds a hopeful element, which I appreciate.

The writing style seems immersive, and I like that the book has moments of reflection and beauty despite its painful themes. While I don’t always gravitate toward stories with such heavy content, I can see the value in it. If I were in the right mindset for an emotional, thought-provoking read, I’d consider picking it up.