Dear John Trailer

SOOOO Pumped about seeing this movie! I'm a huge fan of Nicholas Sparks (boo to all you haters!) and can't wait to see his new movie that comes out February, "Dear John". I remember I enjoyed the book, but now I just need to remember how it ended. My memory is so bad. :-(

Too Cute Not To Share.

I came across this video over at Busy Bee Lauren (who I think is completely adorable) and fell head over heels in love with these little otters.

Watch the WHOLE thing.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

If you haven't heard of The Hunger Games by now, well then you must be living in a cave because it's all the rave in the book-blogging world. But hey, I'm not too far out of the cave myself, because I think I was one of the last people to read it. In September it was my turn to host our book club which also meant I got to choose our next month's selection. So with my fingers crossed, I chose The Hunger Games based completely on all the amazing reviews I had seen from my fellow book bloggers. Then a couple weeks ago our book club met up again to discuss what everyone thought. I was nervous to see how all the ladies would respond, since most everyone had never heard of it before and also because it happened to be a YA novel. But as it turned out, not only did most everyone love it - BUT many of them had already gone on to read the sequel, Catching Fire!

Normally, this is not the type of book I would normally gravitate toward. But this awesome book blogging community has introduced me to a whole new world of honest reviews and recommendations, and without them I would never come across such amazing fiction! Thank you faithful book bloggers, I do appreciate all your reviews!

I'm almost finished with The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks (SSHHH! all you NS haters!) and I'm absolutely loving every page of it! And soon as I finish (probably tonight), I'll be diving in to book #2 Catching Fire! I'm pumped to see what happens next! If you haven't read The Hunger Games yet, seriously just do it - you will be glad you did! The best way I can describe what type of book it is - is Gladiators meet Survivor.

Up next for our book club - The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent. I've had this one on my radar for a while and am so excited it's our next pic! Which reminds me, I need to go to the library to pick up my copy on hold.

Description: Katniss is a 16-year-old girl living with her mother and younger sister in the poorest district of Panem, the remains of what used be the United States. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, "The Hunger Games." The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed. When Kat's sister is chosen by lottery, Kat steps up to go in her place.

Rating: ****

Recommend: Definitely, but it is a futuristic sci-fi type book with a twist of romance. And even though its YA, I would say it's best for ages 13+.

I Apologize by Bradley Booth

Oh boy, this isn't going to be easy. First of all, I received this book through a Goodreads Giveaway, and the author even signed the inside cover which was very sweet and thoughtful.

The premise of the story was so intriguing and being that it was based on the author's life experiences, I had really high hopes while reading it. Unfortunately, it fell very short of my expectations and I was put off quite a bit by the dialogue between the two main characters, Tony & Christina. Every time I would pick up the book to continue reading, I found myself in the midst of a Spanish soap opera. The lines shared between the two were just so over dramatic and cheesy. At first Christina came across as mysterious and charming, but then started to freak me out with the shaving scene and things she would say. I thought it was going to turn into a psycho murder mystery. She was so insecure and controlling and I was hoping Tony would make his escape.

Honestly, I think it would have been more impacting and relatable if the author would have just written a memoir. I'm curious if the author really did experience all that was written about Tony or was it a bit embellished? By the last page, I just kinda just sat there stunned wondering - "Huh? What the heck?".

Mr. Booth, I am so, so sorry. I really wanted to enjoy it, but I just couldn't relate or even empathize with the characters at all. You have some definite potential though, and I wish you the best in your future novels!

Description: “It’s been five years—why does her memory still haunt me so? Have I not paid my penance? Why won’t the demons of my past leave me in peace?”

These are indeed troubling times for entrepreneur Tony Richardson. After years of living an insipid and orderly life on Long Island, the events that led to the tragic death of his fiancée return with resounding fury . . . starting, oddly enough, when he consents to dine in the company of the beguiling, intrusive Christina Jaloqua.

When Christina declares her love and desire to marry him, Tony is overwhelmed by fear that his world will be torn apart again. Unwilling to admit that his petulant attitude is because of his growing affection for her, Tony devises a plan to liberate himself from Christina’s intrusiveness and return his small, methodical world to order.

Tony soon finds out that logic serves no purpose in affairs of the heart; Christina’s elaborate ruse engulfs him into an unplanned marriage and, worst, an unwanted pregnancy.

Now, locked in a labyrinth of fear, Tony struggles to escape the winding corridors filled with ghastly images from the past. As he reaches a dead end, will Tony vanquish them once and for all—or will they again steal his chance at happiness?

Rating: **

Recommend: No, and not just because the storyline wasn't gripping, but also because the love scenes were way too explicit.