THE HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins

I watched the movie, before reading the book.  But, the book caught me up very quickly and I am looking forward to reading the sequels.

Katniss Everdeen and her friend Gale live in what is now district 12.   After the war the US was divided into districts.  Each with their own job.  In district 12 it is the coal mines.  Katniss' father and a member of Gale's family were killed in the mines.  They are doing everything they can do to keep their families alive

A yearly event is the Hunger Games, a "game" the Capitol puts on to keep the districts in line.  Each child from age 12-18.  Each year your name goes in and goes up in the amount of entries.   You can add entries for extra food for the year.  They pick a girl and boy from each district to participate in the hunger games.  Where the winner is the last child standing alive. Katniss has a sister, Prim; this is her first year to be in the drawing.  Her name is called, Katniss volunteers to go in her sisters place

There is a lot of pomp and pageantry leading up to the games.  But, once you are in the arena you are on your own.  Having to live on the land in an arena where the weather and everything around you can be manipulated.

Who will survive?

AMAZON - The Hunger Games

SANDY SAYS 3/3 stars

FRIENDS FOREVER by Danielle Steel

I really enjoyed this book.  Another quick read.  Do you have friends that you have known since kindergarden?  Then this is the book for you.

It is the first day of kindergarden at a private school.  Three boys and two girls become fast friends on day one.  They remain best friends all the way through school.  Through the ups and downs and after graduation they head off to follow their dreams.  They remain very close  and see each other and talk and text frequently.

AMAZON - Friends Forever

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

MERRY CHRISTMAS, ALEX CROSS by James Patterson

Another winner by James.  A quick read and I like the short chapters.

Alex Cross just wants to spend Christmas at home with his family.  But, his job gets in the way.  First on Christmas Eve a man takes his family and others hostage and it takes the night to get him into custody.  Add in a blizzard-which is not normal for DC and it's a pretty long tiring night.   Alex finally gets home and enjoys some time with his family only to be called in on another problem. This time it is a terrorist.  He spends the rest of Christmas into the 26th trying to stop this

AMAZON - Merry Christmas, Alex Cross

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

MY KIND OF CHRISTMAS a Virgin River Novel by Robyn Carr

A really fast and cute story.

You have Angie who is an overachiever, smart and in medical school.  She is in a bad car accident and almost dies.  Her parents are both college professors and her mother especially is after her to go back to school.  She decides to get away from her family, parents, sisters etc and go to visit her uncle and aunts in a little mountain town.
There she meets Patrick he is a Navy jet pilot spending time around his brothers that live in the town.  He is getting over seeing his best friend die while on a mission.
They are both trying to figure out their next moves.

AMAZON  - My Kind of Christmas

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

THE CHRISTMAS WEDDING by James Patterson and Richard DiLallo

Another very quick read from James Patterson.  A cute holiday story about a widow and her 4 grown children.  Gaby is getting married-her husband passed away a few short years ago.  She wants all her children and their families to come home.  The last time they were all together was for their fathers funeral.   So, after being asked by not 1 not 2 but 3 men to marry them.  She leaves the identity of the groom for everyone to find out at the wedding-including the groom.

AMAZON - The Christmas Wedding

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

1225 CHRISTMAS TREE LANE a Cedar Cove Novel by Debbie Macomber

Another fast and enjoyable story.   A sweet holiday tale.

Come back to Cedar Cove, with it's small town friendliness and the group of people we have come to know; through Debbie's Cedar Cove Series.

Here we meet Beth Morehouse, a divorcee with 2 college age daughters.  She owns the Christmas tree farm.   She moved to Cedar Cove after her divorce, when she fell in love with the Christmas Tree farm that was for sale.   Her daughters are coming for Christmas and she and her ex husband are in for a " surprise".   Beth was told her ex Kent wanted to spend the holidays with her and the girls and Kent was told Beth wanted him to join them.  A little matchmaking and Christmas magic is afoot.
But, what happens when Kent shows up with Danielle?    And, in the true life of small towns; we also visit with the other town folk.

Do you want a break from the rush of the holidays?   This is it

AMAZON - 1225 Christmas Tree Lane a Cedar Cove Novel

SANDY SAYS 3/3 STARS

THE CASUAL VACANCY by J. K. Rowling

This book took me a while.  First off it is 503 pages long.   Then the language differences.   The story is set in England, in a small town.

You meet some of the town folks.  The title comes from the term of the same name, which means in part; when councillor dies and leaves a vacant spot.
With that, one of the councillor's die.  We follow along the daily lives of several of the people that live in the same small town and adjoining town.  We follow along in their lives, and troubles.  You follow several families.
Once I got into the story, I liked it.  Beware of swearing and innuendos.

AMAZON - The Casual Vacancy

SANDY SAYS 2/3 STARS