All Lined Up

Author: Cora Carmack

Genre:  New Adult Fiction

Release Date: May 13, 2014

Format: ARC e-book

Number of Pages: 233

Stand-Alone or Part of a Series: Book one of the Rusk University series, but can be read as a stand-alone

Summary:

New York Times and USAToday  bestselling author Cora Carmack follows up her trio of hits – Losing It, Faking It, and Finding It – with this thrilling first novel in an explosive series bursting with the Texas flavor, edge and steamy romance of Friday Night Lights.

In Texas, two things are cherished above all else—football and gossip. My life has always been ruled by both.

Dallas Cole loathes football. That's what happens when you spend your whole childhood coming in second to a sport. College is her time to step out of the bleachers, and put the playing field (and the players) in her past.

But life doesn't always go as planned. As if going to the same college as her football star ex wasn’t bad enough, her father, a Texas high school coaching phenom, has decided to make the jump to college ball… as the new head coach at Rusk University. Dallas finds herself in the shadows of her father and football all over again.

Carson McClain is determined to go from second-string quarterback to the starting line-up. He needs the scholarship and the future that football provides. But when a beautiful redhead literally falls into his life, his focus is more than tested. It's obliterated.

Dallas doesn't know Carson is on the team. Carson doesn't know that Dallas is his new coach's daughter.

And neither of them know how to walk away from the attraction they feel.

Happily Ever After: Yes

What I Liked Most About This Book: I very much enjoyed the realism of this book. Normally heroines in romance novels come across as a bit too plastic. They are stereotypically pretty and popular wrapped up in white and topped off with a glowing, angelic halo. Dallas is none of these. She felt like she could be me, or someone I know. Someone I would be friends with. She is awkward, scrappy, a mixture of bold as brass and shy depending on the situation and full of witty, sarcastic one-liners. She doesn't get along too well with her dad, but, again, unlike most other New Adult novels, it isn't because her dad is some terrible person. Their arguments and family dynamic are totally real. They are fights and scenarios that have absolutely played out in my own house – both the one I grew up in, and also the one in which I am now raising my own son in. The realism made the book and its characters totally relateable.

What I Liked Least About This Book: Without giving too much away, there is a part of the story where Dallas and her dad both seem to forget that she is an adult who attends college and lives on her own. The fact that her dad forgets this is no surprise (mine tends to forget that too…and I am well beyond a college freshman), but most brand new adults I know do NOT forget that fact, and will point it out, loudly, to anyone who will listen if questioned. It distracted from the realism for me.

Share An Excerpt From The Book:

There’s only one thing in the world I despise more than football, and he’s making his way down the stairs toward me.

My eyes flit around me like I’m scanning a battlefield instead of a blowout: fraternity banners, litter of red Solo cups, and a freshman pledge dragging around a trash bag playing reluctant maid. Part of me wants to keep doing that, to pretend like I didn’t hear him.

But I can’t. If I ignore him, it will only prove to him that he still bothers me.

I face him as he steps off the last stair, crossing his arms over his broad chest and grinning at me. Levi. My ex.

He leans his hip against the banister of the grand staircase, and I spy not one but two girls sitting halfway up the stairs, obviously upset that they’ve lost his attention.

Behind me I hear someone shout, “Ready. Aim. Fire!” and I know the beer guns are back in play.

“Alcohol and bad decisions, Levi? Can’t say I’m surprised to find you smack-dab in the middle of that.”

He kicks off from the banister, swaggering a few steps closer. His dark hair and eyes are as striking as always. I’d fallen for him so hard my freshman year of high school: doodling our names together in my spiral, watching him play from the bleachers, wearing that monstrous mum he gave me for homecoming, beaming on his elbow at his junior prom.

The memory of all that just makes me nauseated now. But as Stella always says, hindsight is a pretentious, know-it-all bitch.

“You come here to make some bad decisions?” He moves closer, his voice pitching lower. Intimate. His gaze drifts down my body with an arrogant familiarity. “Because you know I can help you with that.”

Levi Abrams has been the cause of enough bad decisions for a lifetime.

Stella steps in, her voice colder than I’ve ever heard it. “I’m fairly certain she’d rather sandpaper her own skin off.”

I nod and plaster on the fakest smile in my arsenal. “And then take a bath in lemon juice.”

Levi smiles back, and I’m pretty sure the bastard is enjoying this.

He’s bigger than when I last saw him. Bulked up. I guess that’s the difference between high school and college ball. But it’s not just muscles… he reaches out a hand like he’s going to touch my hair, and as I jerk back, even his hands seem bigger than I remember. A man’s hands, rather than those of the boy I knew. Or maybe his head got so big that his inflated ego overflowed to other parts of his body. Also a possibility.

I knew Levi was here when I chose Rusk University—hard not to when he’s the starting quarterback—but I didn’t think I’d ever have to see him. Since Dad wouldn’t let me leave Texas, and only a handful of universities here actually have a true dance major, Rusk was the best option out of the schools to which I was allowed to apply.

Levi lets his hand fall away and turns to leave, but then stops to say over his shoulder, “You don’t have to pretend to hate me so much, you know. I’m here. You’re here. We could start fresh, D.”

Why does no one get that it’s impossible to have a fresh start when nothing has really changed? God, I knew that better than anybody because no matter how many new coaching jobs Dad took, every school ended up the same.

Levi is still a douche-bag who only cares about himself.

Dad still approaches parenting like I’m a member of his team.

And I… I’m still stuck. In my father’s shadow. In Texas. In this lame state school with a joke of a dance program.

And now I’m stuck at my first frat party with the ex who broke my heart.

Yay college.

Would I Recommend This Book: Absolutely. Especially if you liked the show Friday Night Lights.

Would I Re-Read This Book: Without a doubt

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Author Bio: 

Cora Carmack is a twenty-something writer who likes to write about twenty-something characters. She’s done a multitude of things in her life—boring jobs (like working retail), fun jobs (like working in a theatre), stressful jobs (like teaching), and dream jobs (like writing). She enjoys placing her characters in the most awkward situations possible, and then trying to help them get a boyfriend out of it. Awkward people need love, too. Her first book, LOSING IT, is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller. 





Find her here:

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Other Comments: 

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Nash

Author: Jay Crownover

Genre: New Adult Fiction

Release Date: 4-29-14

Format: e-book

Number of Pages: 260

Stand Alone or Part of a Series: Can be read as a stand-alone, but is part of The Marked Men series.

Summary:

Saint Ford has always worked hard to achieve her childhood dream of becoming a nurse. Focused on her work and devoted to her patients, there’s no room for love. She doesn’t need a guy making waves in her calm, serene life – especially when he’s the unforgettable hottie who nearly destroyed her in high school. Dark, brooding Nash Donovan might not remember her or the terrible pain he caused. But he turned her world upside down…and now he’s trying to do it again.

Saint has no idea that Nash isn’t the cocky player he once was. Uncovering a devastating family secret has rocked his world, and now he’s struggling to figure out his future. He can’t be distracted by the pretty nurse he seems to meet everywhere. Still, he can’t ignore the sparks that fly between them – or how she seems so desperate to get away from him. But the funny, sweet, and drop-dead gorgeous Saint is far too amazing to give up on – especially since she’s the only thing in his life that seems to make sense.

When Nash discovers the truth about their past, he realizes he may have lost her heart before he could even fight for it. Now, Saint has to decide: is Nash worth risking herself all over again?

Happily Ever After: Yes

What I Liked Most About This Book: Saint was pretty relatable. I doubt that there is a girl on this planet that hasn’t felt insecure a time or two in her life – especially around a hot guy. I like how real Jay Crownover’s writing is. The whole Marked Men group seems like an every-day, average group of friends and family that you can find living in your town. A lot of books I read( and enjoy) aren’t that way…the people are so fantastical – even in contemporary stories – that they don’t feel like they could be real people living real lives. At least not real people I would ever get the privilege of running into. Along those same lines…I also liked that we got to see quite a bit of the other couple’s in the series. These people are all supposed to be friends...real friends attend each other’s weddings and funerals, pace nervously together in hospital waiting rooms, hang out on a Friday night, ask each other for advice. All of these things happen in Nash and when they do we get to catch glimpses how Rule and Shaw, Rome and Cora, and Jet and Ayden are doing in their happily ever after. We didn’t get to see as much of Jet and Ayden in Nash as I would have liked, but Nash was always depicted as being closer to Rule and Cora, so I suspect we will get our closer glimpses of Jet in Rowdy’s story when that comes out.

What I Liked Least About This Book: I felt like we were told that Saint was picked on and bullied, but we were never shown it. We actually had more scenes where we were shown how badly Nash was bullied by his mom and step-dad than we did for the character who actually had personal issues and hang-ups because of the supposed cruelty she suffered. It seemed that all of her hang-ups and self-esteem issues were all in her head – which could have been the author’s point, since ultimately Saint had to learn to love herself in spite of what others thought. I just feel like it may have been better to show us real instances of her being bullied or teased because then it would have been easier to sympathize with her feelings.

Share A Quote From The Book: “Trust me, the person you are is remarkable and exceptional. If you get acquainted with her, your entire life will change.”

Would I Recommend This Book: Absolutely.

Would I Re-Read This Book: I’ve already re-read all of the other Marked Men books- this one won’t be any different.

Rating: four and a half stars out of five

Other Comments: Every time Nash mentioned hanging out with “the Archer twins” as a kid my heart skipped a beat. I think we truly missed out because Remy had already died when the series started with Rule.  I know its Nash’s story, but I wish we had gotten a bit more from Nash’s POV in high school because I would have liked to get to see Remy and how he fit into and interacted with the Rule/Nash/Jet trio. I wish there was a Remy prequel…I’m just so dang curious about him!

The Trouble With Fate

**As reviewed by Alison**

Author: Leigh Evans

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Release Date: December 2012

Format: Paperback

Number of Pages: 344

Stand alone or series: Book 1 of 4

Summary: (Taken from the back cover of the book).


I HAVE TWO WORDS FOR WEREWOLVES:

My name is Hedi Peacock and I have a secret.  I’m not human, and I have the pointy Fae ears and Were inner-bitch to prove it.  As fairy tales go, my childhood was damn near perfect, all fur and magic until a werewolf killed my father and the Fae executed my mother.  I’ve never forgiven either side.  Especially Robson Trowbridge.  He was a part-time werewolf, a full-time bastard, and the first and only boy I ever loved.  That is, until he became the prime suspect in my father’s death…

BITE ME.

Today I’m a half-breed barista working at a fancy coffee house, living with my loopy Aunt Lou and a temperamental amulet named Merry, and wondering where in the world I’m going in life.  A pretty normal existence, considering.  But when a pack of Weres decides to kidnap my aunt and force me to steal another amulet, the only one who can help me is the last person I ever thought I’d turn to:  Robson Trowbridge.  And he’s as annoyingly beautiful as I remember.  That’s the trouble with fate:  Sometimes it barks.  Other times it bites.  And the rest of the time it just breaks your heart.  Again…

Happily ever after?: For now... but there are still three books to go.

What I liked most: Fun, easy read. Good introduction to the characters. I like how Hedi and Bridge have a love/hate relationship.

What I liked least: Took me a while to understand what Merry was (the amulet, Hedi wears, that is alive). It was a little ways into the book before the author explained her.

Favorite quote: He waited for me to explode again, and when I didn't, he used his two fingers on my forehead to ease me back into my seat. "You are one crazy-ass Tinker Bell," he said, returning his attention to the road (Bridge about Hedi, page 111).

Would I recommend it?: Yes, I really enjoyed reading it!

Would I re-read it?: Right now, yes... I reserve the right to withdraw this statement after finishing book 4 (I do prefer happily ever afters).

Other comments: Visit Leigh Evans' website!!! http://www.leighevans.com/trouble_with_fate

Al's Quote of the Moment

This is from "The Trouble with Fate" by Leigh Evans.

"Yes, I steal books from a blind bookseller" (Hedi, page 6).

Hahaha!!! I laughed so hard! Not that I steal books, but that an author would make one if her characters a petty thief who steals books... Epic! :D

Going Too Far

Author: Jennifer Echols

Genre: Young Adult Fiction

Release Date: April 4, 2009

Format: paperback

Number of Pages: 245

Stand Alone or Part of a Series: stand alone

Summary:

How far would you go?

All Meg has ever wanted is to get away. Away from high school. Away from her backwater town. Away from her parents who seem determined to keep her imprisoned in their dead-end lives. But one crazy evening involving a dare and forbidden railroad tracks, she goes way too far…and almost doesn’t make it back.

John made a choice to stay. To enforce the rules. To serve and protect. He has nothing but contempt for what he sees as a childish rebellion, and he wants to teach Meg a lesson she won’t soon forget. But Meg pushes him to the limit by questioning everything he learned at the police academy. And when he pushes back, demanding to know why she won’t be tied down, they will drive each other to the edge – and over…

Happily Ever After: yes

What I Liked Most About This Book: I love the character development in this book. Meg has flaws and so does John – they aren’t your typical young adult romance cookie-cutter leads. Because they have these flaws, they are able to grow and change throughout the course of the book. The events of the story truly impact them and affect who they are and who they become. It’s nice to see a romantic heroine who isn’t perfect.

What I Liked Least About This Book: I thought that Meg’s inability to recognize someone as being around her own age to be completely unbelievable, especially as it is not explained as to what leads her to make that mistake. Perhaps it is understandable when she is initially arrested as she is intoxicated, but she is subsequently sober and still makes the same mistake until corrected. To me it was very jarring because it doesn’t make any sense and pulls you out of the story.

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Tiffany pushed her coffee away. “When do you think you’ll see John again? Are you planning to rob a bank?”

“Ha. He may be at a college party in Birmingham tonight. That’s was the other reason I called you. I need you to do with me.”

“No way,” she said. “I don’t want to drink.”

“Believe me, I don’t want you to drink. Ever. Again. You don’t have to drink. A college party isn’t that big a deal. It’s a lot like a high school party. The boys are still stupid. They’re just taller and hold their liquor better.”

Would I Recommend This Book: Yes

Would I Re-Read This Book: Yes

Rating: Five out of five stars.

Other Comments: This is on the mature end of the spectrum for a young adult book. If you are easily offended by adult topics, proceed with caution.

Rule

Author: Jay Crownover

Genre: New Adult Fiction

Release Date: May 7, 2013

Format: Nook e-book

Number of Pages: 284

Stand Alone or Part of a Series: Part of the Marked Men series, but can be read as a stand-alone.

Summary:

Sometimes opposites don’t just attract – they catch fire and burn the city down

Shaw Landon loved Rule Archer from the moment she laid eyes on him. Rule is everything a straight-A pre-med student like Shaw shouldn’t want – and the only person she’s never tried to please. She isn’t afraid of his scary piercings and tattoos or his wild attitude. Though she knows that Rule is wrong for her, her heart just won’t listen.

To a rebel like Rule Archer, Shaw Landon is a stuck-up, perfect princess – and his dead twin brother’s girl. She lives by other people’s rules; he makes his own. He doesn’t have time for a good girl like Shaw – even if she’s the only one who can see the person he truly is.

But a short skirt, too many birthday cocktails and spilled secrets lead to a night that neither can forget. Now, Shaw and Rule have to figure out how a girl like her and a guy like him are supposed to be together without destroying their love…or each other.

Happily Ever After: Yes

What I Liked Most About This Book: Rule. I am a sucker for a completely screwed-up, train wreck male lead, and Rule fits the bill nicely. I love that this story is told from both Rule’s and Shaw’s point of view. It makes the story all that much better to not only get to enjoy Rule through Shaw’s eyes, but also to get inside that messed up head of his and see what makes him act the way he does.

Also, kudos to Jay Crownover because she has the male voice down pat. Sometimes when stories are told from multiple points of view they can all sound very similar. But the writing style and word choice changes enough that, in this case, each character has a very distinctive voice, and Rule’s is very clearly and authentically male – something that a lot of female writers struggle with.

What I Liked Least About This Book: Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE his book. And I don’t know that I would actually change this aspect (or any other) of it – but I’ve got to pick something I don’t like…

I didn’t like that Shaw’s personality and back ground seemed to follow what is fast turning into the stereotypical young adult/new adult heroine. Innocent, virginal, pure-as-the-driven-snow good girl who has a bad home life which makes her feel even more like she has to be perfect. Like I said, I like the story the way it is, and I like Shaw. She is perfect for Rule - he needs someone he can protect. It is just unfortunate that this type of heroine has become the norm because it means that Shaw comes across as a bit formulaic and gets lost amongst the gaggle of others just like her, instead of standing out like she deserves to do.

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I covered her entire palm with a detailed drawing of a sacred heart; it matched the one I had inked on the center of my chest. It had flames dancing up the back, a crown of thorns on top of it, a spray of roses along the bottom, and in the center I drew a scrolling banner with my name in the center. “Here’s my heart, Shaw. You have it in your hands, and I promise you are the first and last person to ever touch it. You need to be careful with it because it’s far more fragile than I ever thought, and if you try to give it back I’m not taking it.

Would I Recommend This Book: Yes

Would I Re-Read This Book: I already have – more than once.

Rating: Five out of five stars!

Rome

Author: Jay Crownover

Genre: New Adult Fiction

Release Date: January 7, 2014

Format: Nook e-book

Number of Pages: 269

Stand Alone or Part of a Series: Part of the Marked Men series, but can be read as a stand-alone as each of the books is about a different couple.

Summary:

Sometimes the wrong choice can be just right…

Fun and fearless, Cora Lewis knows how to keep her tattooed “bad boy” friends at the Marked in line. But beneath all that flash and sass is a broken heart. Cora won’t let herself get burned again. She’s waiting to fall in love with the perfect man – a baggage-free, drama-free guy ready for commitment. Then she meets Rome Archer.

Rome Archer is as far from perfect as a man can be. He’s stubborn, rigid, and bossy. And he’s returned from his final tour of duty more than a little broken. Rome’s used to filling many roles: big brother, doting son, supersoldier – but none of those fit anymore. Now he’s just a man trying to figure out what to do with the rest of his life while keeping the dark demons of war and loss at bay. He would have been glad to suffer through it all alone, until Cora comes sweeping into his life and becomes a blinding flash of color in a sea of gray. Perfect may not be in the cards, but perfectly imperfect could just last forever…

Happily Ever After: yes

What I Liked Most About This Book: I liked that this book gave us insight on and closure to the life of Rome and Rule’s brother Remy who was first introduced in Rule. I also appreciated the friendship between Rome and Asa.

What I Liked Least About This Book: The epilogue. I didn’t like that the storyline for the next Marked Men book Nash began in this book. I like that these books, while part of the over-arching Marked Men series, are basically stand-alones. Although, because they are all friends the previous couples make appearances in each subsequent book and obviously life is continuing on for them and things keep happening to them, each couple’s story begins and ends in one, self-contained book. The plot lines in the epilogue seemed very unnecessary in this book since they were essentially not about Rome and Cora. It felt a bit like Nash and Saint were infringing on Rome and Cora’s book. And it left a cliff hanger (for Nash’s story, not Rome’s thank goodness), and I HATE cliffhangers!

Share A Quote From The Book:

“What did you call me?”

“Captain No-Fun.”

He let out a chuckle that sounded rusty from lack of use and he shook his head at me.

“Staff Sergeant No-Fun is more accurate.”

I gaped a little in surprise that a sense of humor actually lurked somewhere under all the muscle and broodiness.

“I call my dad ‘Admiral Ass Hat,’ he doesn’t really think it’s funny.”

The scar on his forehead twitched again. “Your dad was in the navy?”

“Oh yeah. He was totally Popeye.”

“Was he really an admiral?” There was a shade of respect in his tone. 

“Yep, so you can imagine how thrilled he was trying to rein me in when I was younger.”

Would I Recommend This Book: Yes

Would I Re-Read This Book: Yes

Rating: four out of five stars

Bad For You

Author: Abbi Glines

Genre: New Adult Fiction

Release Date: April 1, 2014

Format: Nook e-book

Number of Pages: 200

Stand Alone or Part of a Series: It is part of the Sea Breeze series, but it could be read as a stand-alone, as each book in the series is about a different couple.

Summary: Addiction is part of Krit Corbin’s nature - and women have always been his favorite obsession. But that’s the life of a lead singer in a band. He can have any woman he wants – anywhere, anytime. Well, except one.

Blythe Denton is used to being alone. The minister’s family who raised her never accepted her as their own, and the cruel minister’s wife made sure Blythe understood just how unworthy she was of love. So when she finally gets the chance to live by herself, Blythe takes it and moves into an apartment building with a loud upstairs neighbor who keeps throwing parties all night long.

It’s during one such party when Krit opens the door to find his new neighbor standing there. Blythe wants him to turn down the music, but he convinces her to stay. She’s nothing like the women who parade in and out of his apartment, but Krit can’t resist her – her brown hair, cute glasses, and sexy innocence is too much for him to ignore.

Determined to win Blythe over, Krit Corbin may have just found his biggest addiction yet.

Happily Ever After: Yes

What I Liked Most About This Book: Krit. I didn’t instantly fall in love with Krit when he first appeared in Misbehavin’g like many others seemed to do. As such, I was a bit wary about my chances of liking this story, but as I am a HUGE Abbi Glines fan, I gave it a shot. I am glad I did, Krit totally proved himself to me. I guess I am a total sucker for a screwed-up, broken male lead.

What I Liked Least About This Book: The book was pretty predictable and the major plot twists were a bit obvious. I guessed they were coming AGES before they did.

Share A Quote From The Book:

Once I had thought I understood jealousy. I has seen the girl I was sure I loved in the arms of another man. One she wanted. One who she deserved. But that hadn’t been jealousy. It had been loss. Jess had been a lot like me. Hell, Jess may have been just like me. When life had felt lonely, I knew Jess was there.

This burning possessive fury that was pumping in my veins at the thought of Linc touching Blythe or seeing her orgasm or kissing her lips was all consuming. I’d never felt this before.

“Krit, meet jealousy. It’s a bitter bitch,” Green said with an amused grin.

Would I Recommend This Book: Absolutely.

Would I Re-Read This Book: I am sure I will re-read it a million times, like I have all of Abbi Glines’ other books. It will probably give Just for Now a run for its money as my most re-read Glines book.

Rating: Four-and-a-half out of five stars

Other Comments:  I am pretty bummed that we didn’t meet the members of Jackdown until this book, which is 7^th in the Sea Breeze series. They seem like pretty cool dudes and I would LOVE to see more of them and get their stories as well. Too bad that (I think) there is only one more book in this series.

Seeking Her

Author: Cora Carmack

Genre: New Adult Fiction

Release Date: January 28, 2014

Format: Nook e-book

Number of Pages: 104

Stand Alone or Part of a Series: Book 3.5 in the Losing it Series

Summary: 

A few months after being honorably discharged from the military, Jackson Hunt is still struggling to adjust back to the real world. He needs to get a job and find a sense of normalcy if he’s going to keep his own demons at bay. The job that falls into his lap, though, is anything but normal.

Bodyguard (and baby-sitter) to spoiled-rich-girl Kelsey Summers isn’t exaction what he’d been looking for, but it’s a chance to travel, to get away from the home that has felt stifling ever since his return. It would be a pretty sweet gig if it weren’t for the fact that Kelsey’s father doesn’t want Kelsey to know she is being followed. Hunt feels guilty (and a little bit creepy) as he watches her from afar. She’s vibrant and infuriating, exciting and reckless, mysterious and familiar. When he sees her falling into the same patterns that he suffered years ago, he decides it’s time to stop watching and help her instead. But getting to know her is more difficult than he thought, especially because the more he knows her, the more he wants her.

Happily Ever After: The novel ends rather abruptly.

What I Liked Most About This Book: I loved getting to see Jackson Hunt’s side of the story. It was fun getting into his head.

What I Liked Least About This Book: It was so short!!! There was so much more from Finding It that I was hoping to get to see from Jackson’s point of view, but basically this novella ends right when Kelsey and Jackson meet. I had been hoping that this book would cover highlights of the whole of Finding It, but it turned out to be more of a prequel.

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That’s when I saw her backpack, tossed into the dirt beside a bush, a water bottle, some lipstick, and a passport spilling out of its open top.

My heart thudded once, and then picked up, double time.

Adrenaline sharpened my vision. Careful to keep an eye on my surroundings, I stole past my hiding spot and knelt beside the backpack. I flipped open the passport, and there she was. God, even her passport picture was gorgeous. Long tousled blond hair and vivid green eyes.

Would I Recommend This Book: I would recommend it, yes, but I would also recommend reading Finding It first. This is a companion novella to that story.

Would I Re-Read This Book: Yes!

Rating: Three out of five stars.

The Hunger Games

Author: Suzanne Collins

Genre: Young Adult Dystopian Fiction

Release Date: July 2010

Format: Paperback

Number of Pages: 384

Stand Alone or Part of a Series: Part of a series

Summary: 
In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, “The Hunger Games,” a fight to the death of live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the Games. The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change, but one thing is constant: kill or be killed.

Happily Ever After: It ends well, but it is not your traditional ‘Happily Ever After’ by any means. It is also the first book in a series, so some plot lines are left to be continued - it is not one of those frustrating throw-your-book-at-the-wall cliffhangers though.

What I Liked Most About This Book: I liked that this book makes you think.

What I Liked Least About This Book: There is a love triangle, and I always seem to root for the wrong guy.

Share A Quote From The Book:
"Prim!" The strangled cry comes out of my throat, and my muscles begin to move again. "Prim!" I don't need to shove through the crowd. The other kids make way immediately allowing me a straight path to the stage. I reach her just as she is about to mount the steps. With one sweep of my arm, I push her behind me.

"I volunteer!" I gasp. "I volunteer as tribute!” 

Would I Recommend This Book: I would recommend this book enthusiastically.

Would I Re-Read This Book: I would, and have.

Rating: Five out of five stars! I loved this book. And apparently, much of the reading world did too!

Other Comments: Due to the subject matter of this book, it probably isn’t suited for the extremely squeamish or kids younger than 13ish.