In my bag 4/29-05/05

Reading:

The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe: J. Randy Taraborrelli (having trouble with the last 200 pages or so)
A Game of Thrones: George R.R. Martin

Second Time Around:Beth Kendrick

Up for review:

Strings of Color: Marian L. Thomas

Fly Me to the Moon: Alyson Noel

Hailey Lane wakes up the morning of her birthday thinking she is going to have to work to fly her way home so she can celebrate with her boyfriend, who she thinks is going to propose by the end of the evening. Instead of having to work she gets to fly straight home and the surprise awaiting her is not exactly what she expected. Now, single, with no where to live, she remembers what she dose have. A manuscript that she hasn't looked at in years and a job that takes her all over the world to exotic locations and friends who care about here.
The rest of the plot follows Hailey as she works on her manuscript. Goes to exotic locations meeting men, while working to figure out who she is and what she wants for once too.

I enjoyed reading about Hailey and seeing her grow through the book. Things did seem a bit to easy and convenient, even for a chick lit book, but I could still get behind things falling to place since it was a novel. And the mistakes the character made did help her to grow, she didn't just throw away the good things that happened to her.

I would suggest this book to others who enjoy chick lit, but I would warn someone that this wouldn't be the best introduction to chick lit. It is not deep, but is a fun easy fast read. Three stars is what I would give it.

The Hunger Games: Suzanne Collins

This is book 1 in the trilogy. Around when the movie came out a few of us at work decided that we really did have to read the trilogy, so one of us went and got the first book and I have just now ordered the rest of the books. I gave actually ordered all of them now. Just Friday was I able to get the first from my coworker, after two others. On to the review now.

The United States is now, made of up districts, each with their specialty and each controlled by rulers in the Capital. In order to remind the districts of the control they have each year the Capital draws the a name of one boy and girl from each of the districts and forces them into an arena for a fight to the death.

Katniss has supported her family since her Father died a few years ago. In order to do that she has learned to be mentally strong and to hunt or forage so she can keep food on the table. Now, she must use all of her knowledge to stay alive in the arena. In the arena is Peeta, also from District 12, like Katniss and they have a history together that neither of them can forget. But, are unsure on how to let that effect them in the games. Then there is other Tributes from the other Districts to deal with too, and though she is suppose to kill them and Katniess isn't sure how she feels about that.

As you can tell from the fact that I got the book on Friday and finished it today I couldn't put it down. It is a YA book and truthfully I am not sure what age it is for and am not really sure that it is something I would have been allowed to read as a youth. But, I think there are great themes in the plot that I hope parents would talk to their children about as they read it. There are themes that are just scratched here in the first book in the trilogy and I look forward to seeing how they are dealt with in the next book. Mostly the political stuff, it is presented but needs expanded on.

This book concentrates on the arena and what happens there with the characters developing who they are and making choices in how the arena effects them. Hard decisions are made by all of the characters and seeing how they deal with the decisions adds to the dimensions of the plot.

I would recommend this book to others, giving it 4 stars, but when it comes to YA, I would suggest the parents read it first and be prepared to talk about things especially if the kid is under 15.

In my bag 04/22-04/28

Reading:
The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe: J. Randy Taraborrelli
A Game of Thrones: George R.R. Martin
Strings of Color: Marian L. Thomas
Up for review:

Fly me to the Moon: Alyssa Noel

Hunger Games: Suzanne Colins

In my bag 04/15-04/20

Reading:

The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe: J. Randy Taraborrelli
Rock Star's Girl: J. F. Kristin
A Game of Thrones: George R.R. Martin


Up for review:

Fly me to the Moon: Alyssa Noel


Sorry, I am a bit behind on my reviews and reading. I do have one more to review and will post that soon. Real life has caught up with me a bit, but I still reading and hope to share more soon. 

Then Came You: A Novel: Jennifer Weiner

This novels is told from four different female voices. Jules, a college student, ends up selling her eggs after she is recruited thinking the money will help her save her father. Annie, a young mother who married her high school sweetheart, with two young boys, a family stretching to make ends meet. India is 43, but tells everyone 38 and why not when she can pass for it, recently married to Marcus Croft, a wealth business man, and she is convinced the way to stay happy in their new marriage is to have a baby. But, Bettina, Marcus' daughter, doesn't trust India she might not be ready for the truth though.

India and Marcus hirer Annie to carry their baby and have chosen Jules egg, though they don't know that as it was an anonymous donation. While Bettina doesn't trust her new step mother and in learning about her past really isn't sure what to do with the information. While that is going on the plot follows how Jules uses the money and is growing after graduating from college. How Annie is deal with having the money for her family, but her Husband not being comfortable with her growing belly.

I really have enjoyed all of Weiner's work that I have read and this one is no exception. She builds strong characters and ties them all together, while giving each of them their own storyline which I enjoy. The plot flows easily as we learn about the past of the characters and how that effects them. She also builds amazing strong female characters that I appreciate. Yes, they are usually flawed in some way, which I think makes them relatable to the reader, but they have a strength you can admire too.

I give this book 4 stars and am eagerly waiting for Weiners next book.

In my bag 04/08-04/14

Reading:
The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe: J. Randy Taraborrelli
Rock Star's Girl: J. F. Kristin
A Game of Thrones: George R.R. Martin

Up for review:
Then Came You: A Novel: Jennifer Weiner
Fly me to the Moon: Alyssa Noel

What Stays In Vegas: Beth Labonte

Tessa is an administrative assistant and unfortunately, she is good at that especially knowing the part where she as the secretary is always to blame when things aren't perfect. To try and find some enjoyment at work she makes sculpture out of office supplies she finds. Suddenly, she is given the opportunity to be transferred to the Las Vegas office. Where she will fill in as Kendra's assistant. Kendra is one of the owners daughter's who Tessa made an impression on at the company Christmas party where she gave her a stain remover in the bathroom after Kendra's husband had just been hitting on Tessa. Tessa is conflicted to leave her few friends at work, especially Nick. She has been in love with Nick for years, but not long ago he went on vacation and came back married. So, why wouldn't Tessa take the transfer, it is only for a few months to cover a maternity leave.
In Vegas Tessa finds herself being the wingman for Kendra, who's husband leaves her. She has to balance that with the guy they are doing a project for building strip clubs, is making everyone's lives hard. One of the guys in the Vegas office has potential for something with Tessa too, but when Nick shows up Tessa has some figure out to do. And maybe Tessa will finally find her way out of being a secretary and back to her roots of arts.

I loved this book. Someone dealing with what she is kind of dealt and dreaming of more. She never really gives up her dream, but accepts what she has to. She is faced with something that she has dreamed about for years, but when faced with it has to choose if that is what she really wants.


I thought that Tessa was a well built character and I really was rooting for her through the whole plot. But, she had her moments where you wanted to say, no don't do that, but you got why she did. I also liked how she really seemed to care about her friends. Yes, Kendra was her boss, but there was times that she did want to help her as a friend too.

I would give this book 4 stars. It was well written and the flow kept moving. It is very chick lit, but I found it a fun enjoyable read and would probably say that it would be a good beach read.

In my bag 04/01-04/07

Reading:
The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe: J. Randy Taraborrelli
Rock Star's Girl: J. F. Kristin
A Game of Thrones: George R.R. Martin

Misfortune Cookie: Michele Gorman
This is the next one in Hannah's story and is released today. She self published it and is trying to on the Amazon top sellers list. So, please go check it out.

Up for review:
Then Came You: A Novel: Jennifer Weiner
What Stays In Vegas: Beth Labonte
Fly me to the Moon: Alyssa Noel