5 Star
Review: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Title: Catching Fire (Hunger Games, book 2)
Author: Suzanne Collins
Release: October 1, 2008
Purchase this book: Amazon
Goodreads Entry: here
Genre: Young Adult
Rating: 5 Stars
SPOILER FREE, I PROMISE! 
You may notice, I left out the blurb above…. I was posting it but then I realized its way too spoilery for those of you who have not read book 1 yet. In fact I am really not sure how to review Catching Fire without spoiling book 1, so I am going to keep this brief.
Just as they did in Hunger Games, the characters in Catching Fire captured my heart and didn’t let go. I sobbed several times and I will even admit there were times I wanted to throw the book. The story and the situation surrounding Katniss feels so desperate, its emotionally exhausting. I kept muttering to myself how things weren’t fair and at times I questioned my sanity for becoming so emotionally connected to this story. But isn’t that what a good story is supposed to do for you? A great book binds you to its world and the people in it, it keeps you reading even when your heart is breaking.
Catching Fire easily earns a 5 star rating from me. Once again Suzanne Collins delivers on the emotion, character depth, and suspenseful plot that keeps this Vixen coming back for more. If you haven’t started this series yet, I ask… what are you waiting for? The final book, Mockingjay, comes out this summer and you won’t want to miss it.
FTC Disclaimer: This book was purchased by me.
Review: Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Title: Hunger Games (Book 1)
Author: Suzanne Collins
Release: October 1, 2008
Purchase this book: Amazon | Kindle Version
Goodreads Entry: here
Genre: Young Adult
Rating: 5 Stars
Hunger Games drops you into a future where the United States has been destroyed and all that remains is Panem, a dystopian civilization made up of 12 districts and a Capital city. The Capital controls everything with an iron fist and a previous attempt at rebellion by the 12 districts resulted in the creation of a disturbing event known as the The Hunger Games. Every year each of the 12 districts has to choose one girl and one boy to compete in this televised game of survivor where you either win or you die, and there can only be one winner.
Katniss is a 16 year old girl with far too much responsibility on her shoulders. She protects and provides for her mother and sister with no regard for herself. She is independent, caring, and humble. When her sister’s name gets pulled from the glass bowl as this year’s female tribute to the Hunger Games, there is no question that Katniss will take her place. I loved Katniss from page 1 of this book. She is so strong, and yet still a vulnerable 16 year old when no one is looking. I had tears in my eyes and a sob in my throat before I had even gotten to page 25 because of the lengths she went to for her family. Katniss is a character you will root for and become emotionally attached to.
The beginning of the novel started a bit slow for me, it was all necessary to the story but I was anxious to get to the games and to find out whether Katniss even had a chance at staying alive. Once I got a third of the way through, I simply could not put this book down. The story was action packed, smart, and captivating. My pulse raced and I held my breath along with Katniss every step of the way. I felt her despair and desperation. I felt her joys and her I cheered her on.
If you are looking for a smart, fascinating, unique story with noble and likable characters then Hunger Games will not disappoint you. Don’t let the Young Adult genre designation dissuade you, book lovers of all ages with enjoy this one.
FTC Disclaimer: This book was purchased by me.
I get around lately….
Check out my guest review of Anton Strout’s third book in the Simon Canderous series, Dead Matter, over at Fantasy Dreamer’s Ramblings. Loved this book! 
Review: Shift by Rachel Vincent
Title: Shift (Shifters, book 5 )
Author: Rachel Vincent
Release: March 1st, 2010
Purchase this book: Amazon | Book Depository | Kindle Version
Goodreads Entry: here
Rating: 5 Stars
As for my personal life? It’s complicated. Choices worth making always are. Ever since my brother’s death and my father’s impeachment, it’s all I can do to prevent more blood from spilling. Now our Pride is under attack by a flight of vicious thunderbirds. And making peace with our new enemies may be the only way to get the best of our old foe.
With the body count rising and treachery everywhere, my instincts tell me to look before I leap. But sometimes a leap of faith is the only real option…
I was going to try to write this review without spoilers from the previous books in this series, but I honestly don’t know how to do it. Too much has happened that built up to this book to leave them out. I will avoid spoilers about the plot content of Shift and tread cautiously with previous books, avoiding spoilers about the main mystery/suspense plot of each book. Several people have asked if they can read this book without reading the previous books…. my answer is yes, you could if you really wanted to. But I agree with Patti over at Book Addict that if you do you are missing the full impact of the story. The buildup and history of these characters add so much I would avoid it if you can! You won’t be sorry.
Fans of this series know what a hugely important and controversial book Prey, book 4, was. Besides the devastating death of a well loved character, there was shocking (and totally hot!) smexing between Jace and Faythe. Fans have high expectations of Shift and it delivers on every one of them.
Simply put, Faythe Sanders is not the same girl she used to be. Book 1, Stray, introduces her as a mouthy, defiant, and somewhat whiney college student. Her father is Alpha of South Central pride of werecats, and tabbies (female werecats) are rare. So incredibly rare that they are prized and used as pawns in greedy attempts at controlling all the werecat prides. Initially, Faythe wants none of this system and insists she can have a life of her own outside of the pride, away from her family. This series is very much about the growth of Faythe and her finding her own path within the system her natural werecat instincts are longing for.
By the time we get to Shift Faythe is a strong, determined, intelligent, and forward thinking tabby. She no longer denies who she is or what her status means, but instead works to redefine it and make it her own. She is done shying away from the tough choices. She is the first female enforcer for a pride and thrives on the decisions that will lead her to become the first female Alpha. Yet, she is still flawed, she still makes mistakes. Faythe has to face the consequences of one of those mistakes in Shift.
The tension between Marc, Faythe, and Jace in this book is overwhelming. For most of this series there has been tension between Marc and Faythe, could she ever just let go and be with him? I was rooting for him, he was strong and dependable and would let Faythe lead in her own way. He surprises me in Shift and it only adds to my admiration of his character arc.
Jace was always the fun, but flirty guy who made the readers laugh. I never expected him to grow so much over such a short period of time. The events in Prey, changed him drastically. He is no longer willing to be the fun flirty guy who’s intentions aren’t taken seriously. He is making a serious attempt to win Faythe’s heart in Shift and I find myself swooning over his new found Alpha-ness. Faith is going to have to choose and if being with both of them isn’t an option, I don’t know what I want for her!
With so much of this book riding on the relationship between Jace and Marc and Faythe I was worried the overall plot of the werecat pride conflicts would be lost. I should have known better. Rachel Vincent has written a dynamic, fast paced, action driven story that had me hanging on every word. The South Central pride faces new dangers from both a flight of Thunderbird shifters and Carl Malone’s Pride, intent on gaining control of the pride council. Once again Faythe and her enforcers are fighting for their lives and tough decisions have to be made.
This is probably one of the longest reviews I have written and the sad thing is that I could keep on writing! I finished the book this morning and have been unable to think of anything but it all day long. My heart is torn, my nerves are shot, and my emotions are a mess in that way that you can only get from being invested in a great book. Where do they go from here? With only one book in the series left, Alpha can’t come soon enough. Rachel Vincent’s Shifter series is a roller-coaster ride of suspense and emotion that I don’t want to get off.
Other Reviews:
FTC Disclaimer: Book recieved from NetGalley
Review: Lead Me On by Victoria Dahl
Title: Lead Me On (Tumble Creek, book 3 )
Author: Victoria Dahl
Release: January 5th, 2010
Purchase this book: Amazon | Book Depository | Kindle Version
Goodreads Entry: here
Rating: 5 Stars
…is a big red flag to prim and proper office manager Jane Morgan. After a rough childhood with a mother who liked her men in prison-jumpsuit orange, Jane changed her name, her look and her taste for bad boys. So why is she lusting for William Chase with his tattoo-covered biceps and steel-toed boots? The man blows things up for a living!
She gives herself one explosive, fantasy-filled night with Chase. The next day it’s back to plain Jane and safe men.
But when her beloved brother becomes a murder suspect, it’s Chase who comes to her rescue. And Jane discovers that a man who’s been around the block knows a thing or two about uncovering the truth…
I have only just recently realized my love for contemporary romances, and usually its the strong overpowering alpha males that get my toes tingling. When I heard there was a skull tattoo in Lead Me On I knew that I had to read it. I mean how can a man with a skull tattoo not be a growling alpha male that would make my heart go pitter patter? I am happy to say that Victoria Dahl has shown me I don’t need a contemporary romance with an overbearing male to keep me interested.
Jane Morgan is reserved, immaculate, and the picture of professionalism. At the age of 29 she has left behind the troubled girl of her youth. She changed her name and her appearance, moved to a new town, and dates only men who would make good husband material. She often feels like a fraud but continues doing everything she can to convince herself she isn’t the girl she used to be.
William Chase likes to blow things up. He likes his worn jeans and boots, and he really really likes to blow things up. He is big, tattooed, manly…. when he walks into her office looking like a man out of her past Jane tries to convince herself she can’t have Chase. What would people think? Yet, she gives in to her desires and decides a one night stand would be the perfect treat for her birthday. Little does she realize that Chase is more than just sex on a stick.
Oh how I adore Chase. The thought of him with his tattoos wrapping around his arms and up along his buzzed skull gives me the tingles. I full expected him to be the growling tough guy who took charge, but instead I got a growling and sexy man who knew how to be compassionate, loving, and patient. I was so used to the tough alpha male who tries to deny his feelings and pushes the heroine away for her own good that Chase took me by surprise. Even when I thought he should walk away from Jane and her stubbornness, he hung in there and was honest with her about his feelings. As if Chase alone wasn’t enough to make me drool on my Kindle, the passion between Jane and Chase was scorching.
Her eyes flew to his tattooed skull. Jane licked her lips.
“You’r going to miss your chance, darlin’.”
He knew. He knew she wanted to nibble her way all the way up, wanted to lick him, wanted to look down and see that tattooed head between her thighs…God, he was so arrogant.
Um yes, please. I don’t want to give too much away, but a certain parking lot/truck scene will forever be annotated on my reader.
I will admit that Jane annoyed me a little. She comes across as shallow and uptight at first. She is far too worried about what other people think and I found myself frowning at her behavior on more than one occasion. She pushed and used Chase and I was worried he wasn’t going to push back. In the end tho, Jane grew on me. I get where she is coming from and some things are hard to get passed. She is flawed and there wouldn’t be a story to tell if she wasn’t.
I was originally going to rate this a 4 or 4.5 star book because of my annoyance at Jane’s issues. But the truth is that Lead Me On kept me awake until 3 am last night because I just did not want to put it down. The writing is smooth and flows easily. The story telling and character interactions were amusing and entertaining. Many times I simply typed “lol” next to a line because it got a smile out of me. Lead Me On gives you witty dialogue, sexy men, and a passionate romance that will keep you up all hours of the night – if that isn’t a 5 star romance than I don’t know what is!
Other Reviews:
FTC Disclaimer: This book was acquired through NetGalley
A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, #1) by George R.R. Martin
Image designed by Ailish Dawn
Visit Book Blogs