Blog Tour: Phantom Summer - Amy Sparling (Review + GIVEAWAY)

Title: Phantom Summer

Author: Amy Sparling

Publisher: 336Love

Date of Publication: September 5, 2013

Genre: contemporary YA with ghosts

Blurb:

Seventeen-year-old Taylor Gray moves to Sterling Island to get over her dead boyfriend. Mom’s cool with letting her crash on the couch, but Taylor needs to get a job before the lights are cut off again.

When the tall, dark and crazy Raine Tsunami offers her a position at his thriving ghost tour business, she figures it’s an easy way to make some cash. Taylor isn’t afraid of ghosts--that crap is as fake as her mom’s boob job. She loves their adventures on the historic island, especially the secret places he shows her when the crowds go home. So what if all the ghost stories are just legends?

When Taylor comes face to face with a ghost and Raine crosses the line between friend and boyfriend--Taylor’s new life collides with her haunted past. If murdered people end up as ghosts, then that someone she was trying to forget is probably watching her.

Goodreads

Purchase link: 

Amazon | B&N

Excerpt

Friday comes way too fast and I'm not even mentally prepared by the time eight o'clock rolls around. It's been so long since I've hung out with anyone besides Brendan, and now I'll be with several people my age. At least they didn't appear to be stuck up or judgmental. Well, besides judging me for not believing in ghosts. Of course, it's been my experience that people judge you more once they see where you live. I vow to make sure they never find out. 

"Do you have big plans tonight?" Margret asks as we finish closing up the museum. I know she knows I have plans; she just likes to remind me. And to think I had spent all of my seventeen years wishing I had a loving grandma like in the movies. Margret is basically a loving grandma and she's starting to get on my nerves. 

"Tay-lor." She waves her hand in my face. I jolt out of my daydreams. "Yes," I say. "Anna and Pax are meeting me after work, remember?"

"Oh, that's right," she says, all coy-like. Yeah, as if she didn't remember. "Do you think Raine will be there?"

"I don't know."

"I bet he'll be there." She puts all the day's donations into a bank deposit bag and zips it closed.

"Why does it matter?"

"Because if anyone can make a believer out of you, it's that boy." My first inclination is to object and point out all thing things that make him weird. But I don't, because honestly if anyone is going to make me a believer, I want it to be Raine.

I am glad I picked up this book. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I definitely liked it (although it wasn't as creepy as I thought it would be).

The descriptions of the beach, the historical side of the island, the museums and the places they visited on the tours were beautiful and really made me want to be there.

I also loved almost all the characters! Raine was amazing! He was really sweet but had this air of confidence that made you love him! Anna and Pax were quite nice too and Anna was a good friend. Margaret was such a sweet lady, the kind that everyone wanted to have as a grandmother. I really didn't like Taylor's mother and how she only seemed to care about herself, making a lot of bad choices and almost "forcing" her daughter to make those same bad choices. And then we have Taylor...I have a bit of mixed feelings about her. In one hand I thought she was really brave and really strong dor having to deal with her past the way she did (even if sometimes it was all too much). On the other hand, in the beggining she was pissing me off. You don't have a monopoly on pain, Taylor...other people can have problems too! (Maybe it was just because she was making fun of a guy she said looked "emo" and I used to be a bit alternative too a few years ago, so it hits close to home haha).

It seemed to me that maybe the story was going to go on a slightly different route since in the early chapters Taylor is thinking about Brendan's death and she mentions a situation and when she is talking about it towards the end of the book the situation is a bit different.

I felt that the pacing was a bit slow, especially considering the paranormal theme, but maybe that was the point. Maybe it was supposed to be a more character-oriented story, which it is.

I did have one or two issues with this novel, but all in all it was an enjoyable and interesting read.

About Amy Sparling

Amy Sparling is a native Texan with a fear of cold weather and a coffee addiction that probably needs an intervention. She loves books, sarcasm, nail polish and paid holidays. She lives near the beach with her daughter, one spoiled rotten puppy and a cat who is most likely plotting to take over the world. Amy Sparling is a pen name for YA author Cheyanne Young.

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

GIVEAWAY

$50 Amazon GC and a SIGNED paperback of PHANTOM SUMMER open internationally!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour: After Hello - Lisa Magnum (Review + GIVEAWAY)

Title: After Hello

Author: Lisa Mangum

Publisher: Shadow Mountain

Date of Publication: August 21, 2012

Synopsis

What if the first day of your relationship was the only day you had? 

Seventeen-year-old Sara is a seeker. She’s always on the lookout for the perfect moment to capture with her ever-present, point-and-shoot camera, especially on her first trip to New York City. 

Sam is a finder. He has a knack for finding what other people can’t—a first-edition book or the last two tickets to a sold-out Broadway show. In New York, there is always something interesting to find. 

When Sam and Sara’s paths cross, neither one of them is prepared for what they will find out about each other—and about themselves when they form an unlikely partnership in search of a seemingly elusive work of art. They have one day to find the impossible. Fate brought their talents together, but what happens when time runs out? Will love be able to overcome fate? This new novel from award-winning author Lisa Mangum explores what happens after hello.

Goodreads

Buying Links

Barnes and Noble

The Book Depository (affiliate link)

Amazon (affiliate link)

From the moment I read the blurb I knew I had to read this book and I was not disappointed at all! I love the idea that anything can happen in New York (or at least that is what we are made to believe?) and I really like stories that happen over the course of 24-hours, I don't know but there is this sense of urgency that makes you feel like there is no time to waste.

I think that Lisa writes beautifully and her descriptions of New York were fascinating and made you feel as if you were in the city (which is great for someone, like me, who has never been there)!

I think the characters felt very real and their voice was very believable. Even though I think that maybe Sara (without an h!) was too caught up on something that happened 8/9 years before, I still thought it was easy to relate to the characters and their struggles.

As for the pacing, I think sometimes it was a bit slow, but I guess it is understandable since it happens over the course of 24 hours, so you can't really skip any moments...even the ones that felt like they were just being a filler.

I definitely recommend this book. I think it is a really cute and quick read which took me out of my reading slump (if you can consider reading +1000 page physiology and anatomy books a reading slump).

Author's Biography

Lisa Mangum has loved and worked with books ever since elementary school, when she volunteered at the school library during recess. Her first paying job was shelving books at the Sandy Library. She worked for five years at Waldenbooks while she attended the University of Utah, graduating with honors with a degree in English. An avid reader of all genres, she has worked in the publishing department for Deseret Book since 1997.

Besides books, Lisa loves movies, sunsets, spending time with her family, trips to Disneyland, and vanilla ice cream topped with fresh raspberries. She lives in Taylorsville, Utah, with her husband, Tracy. She is the author of The Hourglass Door (which was named the 2009 YA Book of the Year by ForeWord Reviews), The Golden Spiral, The Forgotten Locket and After Hello.

Website / Twitter

GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Aces Up - Lauren Barnholdt

Aces Up by Lauren Barnholdt

Publication Date: August 10th, 2010

Pages: 288

Age Group: Young Adult

Source: Received it as a gift

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Seventeen-year-old high school senior Shannon Card needs money. And lots of it. She's been admitted to Wellesley, but her dad just lost his job, and somehow she has to come up with a year of tuition herself. But Shannon's dream of making big bucks waitressing at the local casino, the Collosio, disappears faster than a gambler's lucky streak. Her boss is a tyrant, her coworker is nuts, and her chances of balancing a tray full of drinks while wearing high-heeled shoes are slim to none. Worse, time is running out, and Shannon hasn't made even half the money she'd hoped.

When Shannon receives a mysterious invitation to join Aces Up, a secret network of highly talented college poker players, at first she thinks No way. She has enough to worry about: keeping her job, winning the coveted math scholarship at school, and tutoring her secret crush, Max. But when Shannon musters up the nerve to kiss Max and he doesn't react at all, the allure of Aces Up and its sexy eighteen-year-old leader, Cole, is suddenly too powerful to ignore.

Soon Shannon's caught up in a web of lies and deceit that makes worrying about tuition money or a high school crush seem like kid stuff. Still, when the money's this good, is the fear of getting caught reason enough to fold?

This fun, sexy, recession-proof story is a bubbly summer read with surprising depth—great for fans of Sarah Mlynowski.

I have to say that I had a couple of issues with this book. The first one was that I was expecting something more action packed and a whole lot more poker! Sadly, it didn't happen. There is more time spent on Shannon obsessing over Matt, than on Aces Up and the poker games. In fact, you don't learn a lot about the group and the little I got was more based on assumptions.

In terms of characters, my favourite ones were Shannon's sister and Mackenzie, her work colleague/friend. I didn't care about Cole and Matt was a bit of a jerk (even though he was supposed to be the good guy?). As for Shannon's parents, they bothered me...a lot! I guess that if I was a mother I would probably see things differently but I think they were plain irresponsible and should not have treated Shannon the way they did when they found out that she was working on the casino and playing poker. I mean, if you have enough money to buy a BMW and a boat (and you work with stocks) you should have enough money to put aside for your daughters' college...

I thought that Shannon was maybe a bit naive and needed some focus and guidance. Everytime she saw Matt (and sometimes Cole) her imagination would go crazy! I never read about someone thinking about another person shirtless so much as I did in this book!

Like I said, I really liked Robyn (sister) and Mackenzie. Robyn and Shannon had a very nice relationship and Mackenzie was a great character: funny, a little crazy but genuinely good!

Even though the pacing was a bit slow it is a very quick read. I am usually a slow reader and I finished this really fast. 

I know that I have been a bit M.I.A the last few days and I will try to use my time better (and not going out so much! I'm being way too social lately!) 

Review: Going Vintage - Lindsey Leavitt

Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt

Publication Date: April 1st, 2013

Pages: 304

Age Group: Young Adult

Source: Bought it

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Sixteen-year-old Mallory loves her boyfriend, Jeremy. Or at least likes him more than she's ever liked any other boy. She's sure he feels the same way. Until she happens upon his online Authentic Life game and discovers he's cheating on her ...online Mallory's life is falling apart and technology is the cause. And then she finds a list, written by her grandma when she was Mallory's age. All her grandma had to worry about was sewing dresses and planning dinner parties. Things were so much simpler in the 1960s. And there's nothing on the list that Mallory couldn't do herself. Maybe it's time for Mallory to go vintage and find the answers to her modern-day problems.

I have been dying to read this book and I'm so glad I did! Even though it's very common for me to love all the books I read it's not so common for me to find a book where there isn't one single thing that I would change. Going Vintage is one of those books.

I found it really easy to connect with the main character, Mallory, who I think is very loveable. All the other characters are really well written and they all seem to have their own story (instead of just being there as "props" on Mallory's). I really liked Ginnie (her younger sister) and Mallory's friendship. Ginnie seemed to always be there to help Mallory with her crazy plans, even if it means going all 1962. Oliver was another great character. He was really unpredictable and well...absolutely hillarious! I also liked that he had his qualities but he also had flaws.

What really took me by surprise was the plot. It has a couple of nice twists and even though it's not very heavy and emotional it's not superficial either. I thought it was very easy to read and once I started, I was hooked! 

I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a light, really sweet and funny book!

You can buy the book from The Book Depository (this is an affiliate link, which means that if you buy something from there I get a small comition without any extra charges fot you! :D)

Blog Tour: Over The Rainbow - Brian Rowe (Review + Guest Post)

 

Over The Rainbow by Brian Rowe
Publication Date: June 8th, 2013
Genre: YA Fantasy

Synopsis

16-year-old Zippy Green never meant to fall in love with a girl, but when she does, her ultra-conservative father tries to send her to anti-gay camp. At the Kansas City airport, however, she hides inside a giant suitcase and sneaks onto an airplane headed not to the camp, but to Seattle, where her online love Mira lives. Halfway through the flight, the plane barrels out of control and crashes into the ground, knocking her unconscious. 

When Zippy awakens, she finds that most of the passengers have vanished. She doesn’t know what’s happened, but she’s determined to find out. She begins a quest on foot toward Seattle, and along the way, she meets a teenager with a concussion , a homeless man with a heart condition, a child without a shred of bravery, and a terrier named Judy. Together the group discovers that more than two-thirds of the world's population has mysteriously disappeared. But that's only the beginning...

All Zippy wants is to find her Mira, but before she can she has to contend with two outside forces. The first is her homophobic father, who does everything in his power to keep her from the girl she loves. And the second is extinct creatures of all shapes and sizes, including living, breathing dinosaurs, which have replaced the missing population.

Excerpt

The end was coming, faster and faster, as the plane plummeted. I peered into the carrier to see a little white terrier staring back at me.

            When I closed my eyes for the final time I felt two ice-cold tears roll down my cheeks.

            “Mira… I love you… I love you… I—”

            The plane collided against the Earth, and I launched forward, struck my head against the cargo door, and blacked out.  

I know that I am usually not a big fan of fantasy novels but there was something about this one that sounded different. And I have to say that I wasn't disappointed. I think the story os very unique and different from everything I have ever read!

I think that the pacing of the story is very good and towards the middle it becomes really action packed and I couldn't stop reading until I found out whether or not the characters made it out alives.

I tried but I didn't "click" very well with Zippy (the main character)...I think that she was supposed to be smart but sometimes her actions were a bit irresponsible and crazy (even though she always succeeded in what she was doing). I also hated her father (but that is understandable). And I really liked the rest of the characters.

One of the interesting things in this novel are the little chapters from a few years before, that allowed me to understand Zippy's life better and also her relationship with her family.

Guest Post

So why draw from The Wizard of Oz so much in Over the Rainbow? The idea of re-imagining one of my favorite movies of all time was actually an accident. When I started outlining the book, I didn't think about The Wizard of Oz, but the similarities started popping up right away, and ultimately they had to either be embraced or dismissed. I knew the main character Zippy Green was going to meet three people on her journey, and I also knew I wanted to send her to Seattle, Washington. When I learned that a nickname for Seattle is The Emerald City, I knew that The Wizard of Oz was destined to become a major part of my book. 

I thought it was fun in the writing to incorporate elements of The Wizard of Oz just enough so that the fans would see how it's all a subversive, modern re-imagining, but I also made sure to have the references be subtle enough so that you could read Over the Rainbow without thinking about The Wizard of Oz, and the book would still work on its own. Some moments are obvious (Zippy says "I have a feeling I'm not in Kansas anymore" in Chapter 2), and some are super specific, the kind of in-jokes you'll blink and miss if you're not paying close attention (take note of Zippy's home address).

It took me the longest time to come up with a title for my newest book, and The Wizard of Oz helped me there, too. The first title was Once Upon a Time in Topeka, then I went with Enraptured for awhile. In the end I love that the book is called Over the Rainbow. Not only does it reference the classic film, and not only does a rainbow show up in the final scene, but the image of the rainbow brings to mind pride and tolerance in the LGBT community, which is the most prevalent and important theme that runs throughout the book. 

Author's Biography:

Brian Rowe is a writing fiend, book devotee, film fanatic, and constant dreamer. He's written nine novels, dozens of short stories, five feature-length screenplays, and hundreds of film articles and essays. His fiction has appeared in Dreamspinner Press, Mobius Magazine, and Wilde Oats Literary Journal. He is one half of the YA book blog Story Carnivores, where he reviews the latest in books and film. He is currently pursuing his MA in English at the University of Nevada, Reno, and is hard at work on his first New Adult novel, which will be released in November 2013.

Website | Goodreads

Where you can find it:

Barnes and Noble  

Amazon (this is an affiliate link which means that if you buy anything from here, I get a small comission without any extra charges for you)

Review: Pity Isn't An Option - Jessica Brooks

Pity Isn't An Option by Jessica Brooks
Series: Cozenage (#1)

Publication Date: February 5th, 2013

Pages: 334

Age Group: Young Adult

Source: Got it from the Making Connections group on Goodreads in exchange for an honest review

Synopsis

Seventeen year-old Jonas Norton is trying to come to terms with what his blood disorder has robbed from him, including his two most favorite things: basketball, and competing in Hatchet Racket, Wanless’ annual hatchet-throwing contest. The facts that his father works constantly to pay for his blood tests and Jonas can actually see the disappointment in his eyes for being such a failure only make matters worse. And even worse than all of that? Jonas' own twin brother, Micah, is perfectly healthy and becoming quite the basketball player. Also, Hattie, the girl Jonas has loved for forever? She has no idea how he feels.

Sixteen year-old Hattie Akerman lives down the hill from Jonas. Though her father, Heath, tries to hide his lack of mental clarity behind the bottle and she's pretty much given up on having any kind of relationship with him, she would still rather her younger sister, Lucy, not have to deal with the consequences of his behavior. Hattie helps her mother by baking food to sell at Market and looking out for Lucy. No matter what the rest of the town says about her crazy father, Jonas sticks up for them. He is, by far, her very best friend.

As if things aren’t complicated enough already, Heath and Micah are unexpectedly drafted into President Kendrick's army (an army from which no one ever returns) just days before Thanksgiving. When Heath disappears instead of arriving at the Meeting Place to check in, Hattie and Jonas decide they’ve had enough, and take matters into their own hands. And though nothing could have prepared them for what happens next, Hattie and Jonas learn that hope can be seen in every situation. You just have to know where to look.

One of the things I liked the most about this book were the main characters! They were beautifully written, they sounded real and were very likeable! The secondary characters were also very unique and they all had distinguishable traits and interesting back stories.

I also think that the world was very believable and so was the way people reacted to the government.

In my opinion the story moves really slow and only in the last quarter of the book something really exciting happens! The rest of the book shows more the daily life of the people and their struggles (especially the main characters) so when Heath disappears after he was drafted, Jonas and Hattie come up with a plan that was quite entertaining and I found myself rooting for them to be successful! 

The ending isn't very happy but even though it is a bit of an open ending it leaves you with a sense of closure. I would still love to read a sequel and perhaps get to know the characters even more.

All in all, I think this is a great contribution to the dystopian genre. The world and the characters are very well thought out but the pace can be extremely slow in the beginning.

Where you can find it:

Amazon (this is an affiliate link which means that if you buy anything from here, I get a small comission without any extra charges for you)
Smashwords

Review: The Art Kids - Kate Spofford

The Art Kids by Kate Spofford

Publication Date: May 26th, 2013

Pages: 200

Age Group: Young Adult

Source: Got it from the Making Connections group on Goodreads in exchange for an honest review

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

“The new girl has scars on her arms, like mine..."

Sophie thought her senior year was going to be the best. That was before the new girl Laney arrives in her art class. Now, instead of good times hanging with her friends, everyone is acting strangely. Paul is angry all the time, Kevin and Jenna aren’t quite the perfect couple anymore, and everyone is ignoring Evan.

Sophie knows there's something different about the new girl. Something that seems to be tearing her group of friends apart. When Evan starts dating Laney, it looks like the end of the Art Kids… but maybe Sophie isn’t seeing the whole picture. Something happened last May... something Sophie doesn't want to remember...

This book was such a nice surprise! I like to think of it as one of those unknown gems that is out there!

Although, I do have to admit that in the beginning the characters were pissing me off a lot little bit. I think it's great that you don't drink, don't smoke and don't do drunks...but you don't need to be so condescending...I also don't know if writers just use the whole "different cliques" situation to add drama to the story or of it really happens in American highschools (it certainly doesn't happen here in Portugal)

I did like that Sophie realized that she was wrong for judging people without knowing them and makes an effort to change.

The first quarter of the book moves a bit slowly and you don't really see where the story is going. That's when I started noticing some strange things and from then on I couldn't put the book down because I had to find out whether or not my theory was correct. (It was, in case you were wondering...). It is still an huge plot twist!

I feel like the characters were beautifully written and sounded very real. There were times when Sophie would think or say certain things and I could completely imagine myself thinking and saying them too.

When I started reading this I had no idea I would fall so much in love with this novel. Everyone should read it!

Where you can find it:

Amazon

And look at how nice the cover is! (This may or may not have something to do with the fact that I used the same font on my header...)

Review: Eleanor & Park - Rainbow Rowell

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Publication Date: February 26th, 2013 (the hardcover edition from St. Martin's Press)

Pages: 325

Age Group: Young Adult

Source: Won in a giveaway

Synopsis

Set over the course of one school year in 1986, ELEANOR AND PARK is the story of two star-crossed misfits – smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you’ll remember your own first love – and just how hard it pulled you under.

I was dying to start reading this book! And I am so glad I did!

First of all, I absolutely fell in love with the main characters. I love the fact that Eleanor is overweight because it usually doesn't happen (and she doesn't loose any weight throughout the book) and Park is Asian (again, it's not very common). I just thought they were really interesting, smart characters and their relationship is the cutest thing ever!

The pacing wasn't too fast and it took time for them to get to know each other and to fall for each other which was great (no insta-love!) but sometimes the story seemed to drag a little bit longer than necesary.

I also liked how in the end you see a different side of Tina and Steve (that maybe they're not as bad as they seemed). I'm just sad that we don't hear a lot of DeNice and Beebi since they seem to be Eleanor's only friends (except for Park of course).

I just hated Richie, Eleanor's stepdad! And her mother was really annoying too. Maybe I'm too young to understand her point of view but I think that your kids well-being should be the most important thing and I seriously don't think Richie was a good stepfather.

This is a book that I definitely recommend! The story is amazing and the characters are different and unique.

  

Where you can find it: (these are affiliate links, which means that if you buy from them I get a small comission, without any extra charges for you)

The Book Depository

Amazon

Review: Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
Series: The Hunger Games (#3)

Publication Date: August 24th, 2010

Pages: 390 (ebook: 288)

Age Group: Young Adult

Source: Won in a giveaway

Synopsis

My name is Katniss Everdeen. Why am I not dead? I should be dead.

Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.

It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plans - except Katniss.

The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. she must become the rebels' Mockingjay - no matter what the personal cost.

I am not even sure where to begin so I am going to leave here my reactions while reading the book:

I think that in comparison to the other two books this one fell a bit short. I was just in a state of confusion throughout the book (maybe because Katniss was too). 

But I do have to admit that you could really connect with the characters and feel what they were feeling (at least before the last chapters)!

Now, is time to talk abou the last chapters. Without giving anything away, the only word I find to describe them is anti-climatic...you spend three books waiting for something to happen and then it doensn't really happen as you were expecting...that really disappointed me.

I did think this series was really original and I really liked Suzanne Collins' s ideas...even if I didn't like this book as much as the other two.

I would still recommend it though, especially if you read the other books in the series and perhaps, what I thought was a very anti-climatic moment, you may find it a nice plot twist!

Review: Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Series: The Hunger Games (#2)

Publication Date: September 1st, 2009

Pages: 400 (why was my ebook was only 230 pages long? it still had 27 chapters and everything...)

Age Group: Young Adult

Source: Won in a giveaway

Synopsis

Against all odds, Katniss has won the Hunger Games. She and fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark are miraculously still alive. Katniss should be relieved, happy even. After all, she has returned to her family and her longtime friend, Gale. Yet nothing is the way Katniss wishes it to be. Gale holds her at an icy distance. Peeta has turned his back on her completely. And there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol - a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create.

Much to her shock, Katniss has fueled an unrest she's afraid she cannot stop. And what scares her even more is that she's not entirely convinced she should try. As time draws near for Katniss and Peeta to visit the districts on the Capitol's cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever. If they can't prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are lost in their love for each other, the consequences will be horrifying.

I have to say that this book was quite unexpected (mainly because I have been avoiding movie trailers like the plague)!

I think that the first half of this book moves a bit slowly but then it's action packed until the end. I like how we get to read about some districts rebelling against the Capitol and the impact it has on the main characters' lives.

I also loved that we get to see a little bit more of Katniss and Gale's reltionship, as well as Katniss and Peeta's. It's easy to understand how conflicted and confused she is and it's nice to see Peeta always trying to help her with her nightmares and supporting her. (Seriously, I wish I had Josh Hutcherson climbing in bed with me...)

Katniss's mother is also more present in this book and we can finally see the woman she was before her husband's death.

The new characters are also really original and really well-rounded and as usual, everyone is important to the story.

In conclusion, I think that this is a great sequel to the first book and it didn't disappoint me at all. On to the third book!