Review 6- The Hunger Games Suzanne Collins

In the distant future the land knows as North America is gone. In it's place is the Capitol city Panem and where 13 Districts once stood, now only 12 remain. Every year 2 teens from each district are chosen to fight in The Hunger Games. A brutal winner takes all fight to the death. The "tribute" left standing receives riches for themselves and their family. Enough food for their District.

Katniss Everdeen, a sixteen year old girl, hunts illegally outside of the District fence with her best friend Gale (who is an 18 year old Male), to make sure there is enough food for their families . She barters and trades the meat, fruits, nuts, and plants she gets for the other things they might need to survive. She lives with her mother and 12 year old sister Prim.

The day the tributes are to be picked is tense and filled with dread, and the unimaginable happens. Out of all of the girls Prim is chosen to be the tribute for District 12, Katniss immediately steps in and takes her sisters place. The male picked is Peeta Mellark, the son of the Districts Baker.

The story follows them from District 12, to the Capitol where the games are held. It is action packed and amazing. You meet the other tributes and learn to hate some, and you fall in love with a few. I can actually say that I laughed, and I cried, and I plain ol' got pissed off.

It is an amazing story. So just read it!

The next book in this trilogy is called Catching Fire. The Conclusion is called Mockingjay and comes out in August.

Review 5- Beastly by Alex Flinn

Beastly is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Set in Modern Day New York, it begins with the handsome, charming "Prince". Rich, beautiful and someone everyone wants to be Kyle Kingsbury has everything he could ever want or need, except his famous fathers love. He has the most popular girl in school as his girlfriend, tons of friends, and the world as his playground.

Enter Kendra Hilferty. Labeled a freak just because she's different. Over weight, bad skin and teeth, has a green tinge to her hair, and dressed all in black. She takes a stand against Kyle in their English class as the ballots for Dance Royalty are filled out. He gets back at her with harsh words, and later a fake act of pity and asks her to be his date to the dance. She asks for a white rose as her corsage, nothing more. His real date, his girlfriend Sloan, wants an Orchid. Kyle leaves the task to their house keeper and all the housekeeper produces is a single white rose. Sloan of course doesn't accept it and in one act of kindness he gives the flower unselfishly to the girl selling tickets.

Kyle of course stands Kendra up and with Sloan by his side they try to make a fool out of Kendra. Instead expecting this course of action from him, she tells him "I hoped you wouldn't make my decision so easy." "What decision?" he asks of her, and her only reply so low only he could hear is "You'll see."

The events that happen after this you can guess if you have read or seen any other adaptation of BATB. Alex Flinn brings in wonderful characters in Magda, the housekeeper, and Will Kyles blind tutor. These two people become everything to Kyle in his life, until he finds comfort in his rose garden. Until the fateful night something happens that brings him Lindy.

I have a soft spot for BATB, so I loved this story. It was a quick read and definately one I'll read again.

Review 4: Nora Roberts Bed of Roses

Since I already reviewed Visions in White, I figured I might as well follow through and do Bed of Roses.

Bed of Roses is the second book in the Bride Quartet by Nora Roberts. This is the Story of Emma and Jack. They have been friend for as long as... well forever. Emma is the florist for Vows. Her knowledge of plants and flowers, as well as colors and what goes well with what makes her very sought after and praised for her beautiful arrangements. She always knows just what will make the occasion. She comes from a loving family, and while she enjoys men and easily falls into lust, she will also point those men in the right direction when the "thing" is over. She hopes to one day find the everlasting love her parents have.

Jack is the man responsible for all of the renovations at the manor and all of the off buildings that house Vows. As an architect, he works well with people and has a great personality. After a party one night after watching Emma across the room all evening he happens to drive by a car stranded on the side of the road. It's Emma, and he helps her "Look under the hood." They tend to get a little cozy and head turn towards each other.. Sparks fly.. he gets her car started goes out of his way to follow her home.. and in that instant the two see each other in a whole new light.. One tinged with sexual heat. He's leery of starting anything with her because of the friendship with her and all of the other girls, plus Parkers older brother, not to mention the broken home he came from.

Of course one thing leads to another.. and badda bing badda bang.. we have the big moment, which follows some really hot playful email flirting. Things eventually come to a head.. a fight occurs and, honestly I hate how Nora has the 4 women and some of the other characters react to Jack after. But maybe because that just because I really liked Jack. Finally things work for the best and Emma finally gets Her Blue Butterfly...

Her Romance in the Moonlight.

The next book is the story of Laurel and Carter (Parker's older brother). Followed by Parkers story with a character you will meet in B.O.R..

Once again. I will recommend this book..because well I will recommend just about anything Nora writes. It's a guilty pleasure.

Well.... Crap...

OK so I havent blogged anything or done my reviews in a while. I apologize. Between being sick before, then my oldest brother got married and I had to make 60 homemade hot chocolate favors and I made the wedding cake... I was freaking busy. Now we have Christmas just a few short days away. I feel like THE biggest slacker in all of Cannon Ball History!

So Now Im and vowing at least ONE review today in honor of Nicole's Birthday... Then I'll get going again and get caught up...

Happy Happy!

I'm a slacker....

So I just realized Im behind in my posts. at this rate.... I'm not gonna make it up. So I have 3 weeks to make up for.. Will do ASAP. But first... I have a wedding cake and a dry wedding to get through.

Books Read

Visions in White- Nora Roberts (Re read)

Bed of Roses- Nora Roberts

The Finishing Touches- Hester Browne

Forgiven- Shelley Shepard Gray

Week 3: Visions in White Nora Roberts

Since I was sick last week this will be my blog for week 3.

Mackensie, Laurel, Emma, and Parker have been friends since they were kids. playing hundreds of games of "Wedding Day". Now as adults, they run a wedding planning company called “Vows.” Parker’s obsessive-compulsive nature makes her the perfect person to plan out all the minute details. Emma is the florist and grows most of the flowers herself, Laurel is the pastry chef in charge of all of the cakes and desserts, and Mackensie (Mac) is a professional photographer whose work has been on the covers of magazines.

Vision in White, the first of the quartet is Mac’s story. Even though Mac works in the wedding industry she doesn't see getting married in her future. She doesn’t really believe in happily ever after. Her mother, Linda, is a serial bride and is always on the trail of yet another man. To make things worse, every time things fall apart she always comes to Mac with all of her drama, always drain her daughter emotionally and financially.

On the day of one of the weddings, Mac’s having “one of those days” when she meets Carter, the bride to be's brother. Sparks start to fly and it all leads up to a confession and a kiss. Mac never imagined herself falling for anyone, much less an English teacher in tweed and glasses with a dry sense of humor, but soon things are twisting and turning. After a funny scene in which Mac has her mothers car towed and Carter turns Linda down when she not so subtly propositions him. Things take a turn for the better.

All in all a good read. Vintage Nora. It's nice to have a straight romance and not a paranormal or murder thrown in there. Book Two Bed of Roses is already out. This is Emma's book. Followed by Laurel and then Parker.