{Catching Fire} by Suzanne Collins

I knew there had to be a catch to both Gale and Katniss winning the Games. The Capital had to come back and destroy what happiness they had. I was FURIOUS that they had to be in the games again. I kept thinking Katniss could find a way out of it. The mocking jay is such a cool symbol and I really loved how there were so many people from all the different districts that stood behind Katniss and this revolution that she doesn't know she started. It was too intense reading about the games and imagining how they were going to both survive or survive at all. I still wanted more of Gale and Katniss and I don't know how I feel about Katniss and Peeta. I love them both and can't decided who I want her to end up with. They are both good guys. Ahhhh...what's gonna happen???

{The Hunger Games} by Suzanne Collins

As morbid as this storyline was, I fell in love with the characters. Katniss was so brave to volunteer to be in the hunger games for her sister. And it was heartwrenching when she had to say goodbye to Gale and her family. I just can't imagine what she went through. It was interesting to see how things unraveled and how Katniss ultimatley won. So sad that Rue had to die, but I couldn't be happier that Katniss formed an alliance with her and did so much to make her death not go unnoticed. I loved her designer (I can't remember his name at the moment). The way he made Katniss and Peeta look fabulous. And Peeta was such a hero. He sacraficed so much to keep Katniss safe. I love his bravery. I can't imagine what they must've gone through being in that arena. I wanted to read more about Gale and Katniss and their reunion when she came back from the games. Can't wait for the next book!!!

{The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society} by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

This was such a fun read. I didn't think I would like reading letters back and forth from someone, but it turned out to be so interesting. I loved hearing thoughts and experiences from different people to Juliet. We got to experience and share parts of the war and it was sad and tragic to hear what these people went through, but you could see that it helped them work through it to talk about it and share it with Juliet. I absolutely LOVED the ending and was so happy that Juliet ends up with Dawsey. The characters became so real and I wanted to see pictures of them to put a face to the names. Very easy read and two thumbs up from me! :)

{My Sister's Keeper} by Jodi Picoult

My read this month was "My Sister's Keeper". I had a bit of a hard time finishing this book. I'm a big believer of positive thinking and whatever you think about will come about. So reading a book on a girl with leukemia and how her family dealt with it was a struggle to keep my own thoughts positive. (In the back of my mind as I am reading this is that my dad has lung cancer and I'm pregnant with my third, so I don't want to pull anything negative to me reading this depressing book). I almost quit, but somehow I trudged on. It was a very ironic ending and very tragic to say the least. I bawled, of course. I felt really bad for that family. The poor brother (I forget his name...?) but he suffered the most, I think. He got overlooked and has some serious issues to deal with. The sister's at least had each other, and YES Anna was brought into this world for the sole purpose of being a donor for her sister, but at least she felt needed. I would hope that if something like that were to happen in my life I would still love equally and be there for EACH child. How can I say that though? I don't know what it would be like. I guess it just goes to show that life isn't fair and that it never goes as expected. But cherish each moment and each person in your life. Ugh...on to the next book.

{The Christmas Box} by Richard Paul Evans

My new years resolution this year is to read at least one new book a month. This month I chose "The Christmas Box" by Richard Paul Evans. It was such a quick read, I think I finished in just a couple of days. It was a very touching book and I cried through a lot of it. It was easily relate able because the story was based out of SLC and I was familiar with the culture and locations. Two thumbs up from me!! :)

It's been a loong time since I've read a great book. Any suggestions?

The Host by Stephanie Myer

Despite all the negative things I had heard about this book, I actually really really liked it. I was facinated by the imagination of the author and how she could come up with such a clever idea for a story. It did take me a couple of chapters to grasp the concept of the story and where it was going. Then as I got more deep into the book, I found myself not wanting to put it down. I feared for the humans and tried to understand the souls. I loved the ending and am so glad it was a happy one. I stopped reading with 2 chapters left thinking that was it, then I turned the blank pages and saw that I wasn't finished. That's when the happy ending came! YAY! I want to know more about what happens with the humans and with Ian and Wanda. And I'm excited they met other humans that also kept souls. It was awesome and highly recommend this book with two thumbs up!!!!!!!!