iPad Obsession Mini Post

Hello my little bookworm friends!
This is just a brief post to assure you all that, yes, I am alive and well, but not getting much reading accomplished. Currently, I am in San Antonio enjoying a wonderful vacation. Next week, I plan to get back to reading and my other numerous projects. The next books on the list are the two remaining books in The Hunger Games Trilogy. Can't wait! TTFN

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

YES! I finally read The Hunger Games. It was amazing and I am oh-so-ready to read the other two books in this trilogy. This first novel is such a profound story, even though it is Young Adult fiction. I feel that most adults would enjoy this book and I know that many teens enjoy it, as well. I told my eigth grade class that I was reading it and received rather piercing screams from the girlies, of "Oh my God, that is, like, the best book ever!!!!" LOL. They absoultely had to know what part I was at and assured me that the next two books are just as good.
This novel is about Katniss, a girl in the very distant future, who grows up in poverty. She does all that she can to support her mother and sister, until she is chosen for The Hunger Games. These games are a fight-to-the-death reality show, similar to the era of gladiators. The audience is filled with bloodlust as they watch these teenagers fight to the death. The games are supposed to keep the various districts (countries) in check and prevent them from rebeling against The Capitol (government). In the midst of all the violence, is a romance, that is near to impossible.
Overall, it is a book that keeps its reader gripped in adventure and excitement. I found myself trying to create images from the book and realizing how close many of the aspects are similar to life, today. These Hunger Games are so similar to today's reality shows, such as Survivor, that it is uncanny. I would suggest this book to any and all readers, over the age of 12. There is some extreme violence involved, but it is not overly gory. A bonus to reading this novel is that the movie version is expeccted to come to theatres in March. I am wondering if these novels and the movies, will see as much success as Harry Potter or Twilight. I think I will give this novel a 5, it was that goood!!!

http://www.thehungergamesmovie.com/

Dusty Britches by Marcia Lynn McClure

Yet another Kindle freebie; however, this was a pretty good one! Dusty Britches is a historical romance based in the lated 1800's. It follows three couples who are on a ranch in Texas. The characters are realistic, for the most part, but the author can get carried away with the plot at times and the characters suffer for it. It is a lengthier Kindle book, but a quick read. It probably took around 5 hours to read it. I would suggest this novel for women who like romance and westerns, combined. The nice thing about this book is that the romance is kept tasteful and doesn't overwhelm the rest of the plot. I would have liked to see a bit more adventure and 'shoot-em-out' fights, but it still had a nice western flare. One thing that completely drove me CRAZY, was that the author kept referring to men's blue jeans - well, in the 1800's men did not wear blue jeans, they usually wore cotton or wool pants of a brown or grey color. Details, details, I am such a stickler for historic accuracy. Regardless, I managed to still enjoy the novel, so I will give it a 3.5. Definitely an enjoyable read!

Homespun Bride by Jillian Hart

Kindle Freebie! I downloaded this book on my Kindle for free, through Amazon.com. It is about what one would expect from a free e-book. It is cute, but I must admit that I couldn't finish it. I made it half way through before I finally threw in the towel. It was rather dull and had a predictable plot line. It is a good book to read, if you are looking for something calming and mushy, but that's about it. Not a fabulous read, but I will give it a 2 for effort and the fact that it's free......

Genealogy Returns

As my uncle so aptly put it, "It is time for the changing of the G's", as in gardening to genealogy. It seems as though the early onset of darkness every evening encourages us to delve into the past. Or, it could be that I finally have more time, after finishing the KPTP and teaching exams. Nonetheless, my book reviews may decrease for a while, as I return to ancestry work. However, I will let you knwo if I find anything iteresting, er, more interesting... Don't forget, I am related to a Swedish count and Pocahontas....What could possibly top that? Maybe my mysterious Russian ancestors are somehow connected to an ancient Czar or Anastasia...One can hope, can't she?

My Swedish great-grandfather,
whose father is said Count.
However, his mother was not
a Countess, so..... parentage
is proving difficult to verify.
approx 1913

The Most Unsuitable Wife by Caroline Clemmons

This was a Kindle Special and I think I paid 99 cents for it. I was expecting it to be very cliche or boring. However, I was pleasantly surprised as it was a well-thought out novel and had a great ending. I would definitely suggest this as a Kindle download and I believe it is still very cheap. It is about a Texan who must marry or he will lose his ranch according to the will left by his parents. On a cross-country trip, he finds and falls in love with a woman. She is being chased by a mysterious man who wished her dead. A cute novel, mainly for women, that I would recommend.
I give this book a 3.

The Chili Queen by Sandra Dallas

My reading has slowed in the last week as a result of finishing my KPTP project for student teaching. However, I managed to finish one book, at least. The Chili Queen is yet another marvelous novel by Sandra Dallas. It is about a brothel madame, an outlaw, and a mail order bride in the late 1800's. It is full of hilarity, drama, and suspense. I really enjoyed it, even though I felt the ending was a little weak. There is a twist at the end, which I love, but I feel that the conclusion is just not what it should be. I think Dallas could have changed it to suit the rest of the book a little better. Not my favorite by Sandra Dallas, but it is definitely worth the read. I will give this novel a 3.5.