Review: Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins + guestblogging

Series: Hunger Games 3
Genre: Dystopia, YA
Pages: 455
Published: 2010

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.

In the end I was just so disappointed that I regret even reading it. I am also too disappointed to write a long review. Too disappointed to say anything at all at the end.

1.) Reasons you chose this book
I loved book 1, it kept me on the edge of my seat, book 2 was a bit of a let-down since nothing new happened. It was the same formula, just not as good. But I still wanted to read this book and see how it all played out.

2.) Reasons you liked or disliked this book
I liked it because it was easy to read.

I disliked it because suddenly I did not like Katniss at all. I wanted to slap that stupid girl in the end. She kept begging to go and fight after not paying attention to anything. And what kind of idiots let her fight? Other people had trained while she lounged around and then she wanted some action too. Which only led to people getting hurt and killed. It was utterly pointless. Especially something that happened near the end. So yes it bugged me, a lot. 

Here I also wanted a nice HEA, sure I got one (though she never chooses! It just happens. So I would not call that stupid ending a HEA), but I could not enjoy it when I closed the book disliking her and just feeling utterly disappointed with the whole book. 

There are just so many things wrong with everything in this book.

3.) Reasons you are recommending this book
I am not!! Read book 1 and then read spoilers what happens. I would not waste my time in the end. Sure they are easy to read and still ok but for me, it just left a bitter after-taste. It went from awesome to wtf. I am so glad I did not buy the book. 

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I wrote together another post for Stella over at Ex Libris :D Since I wanted to spread the word about these awesome graphic novels by Bill Willingham

Read it here. 

So head on over and while there be sure to enter the contests. She has a lot of them going on for this Fairy Tale extravaganza 

 

Guestblog: Lydia Dare + giveaway

Today I welcome Lydia Dare to my blog. The authors of A certain Wolfish Charm, Tall Dark and Wolfish and in June: The Wolf Next door. Be free to ask questions, and enter the contest at the bottom of this blog. Where you can win Tall, Dark and Wolfish.

It becomes apparent when you sit down to create a new world that you also have to create characters to fill that world.  In our series, creating the gentlemen Lycans was easy.  They were charming alpha-rakes who became wolves at “that time of the month.”  In the days leading up to the moonful, they get a little lusty, not to mention a little more surly.  But, aside from that, they’re fairly average men with the same wants and desires as the normal Regency rake.

In Tall, Dark and Wolfish, we wondered what might happen if a Lycan couldn’t change into Lycan form with the coming of the moonful.  It would certainly be like losing a part of his being, particularly with Benjamin. He liked being a Lycan and reveled in the moonful each month.  So, when it came time to change and he didn’t, he was heartbroken.

There were no apothecaries or physicians in Regency England who could heal his wolfish self, not to mention protect the side of himself that he has kept a secret for so long, so the idea of a healer was born. And what better healer could there be than the fiery red-head, Elspeth Campbell.  Of course, Ben is not at all aware he’s going to find the woman of his dreams; he simply thinks he’s looking for an old crone who can heal what ails him.

That’s how the coven was born. Còig is a Scots Gaelic word that means “five.” Of course having one solitary witch who could restore Benjamin to himself would be much more fun if there were more waiting in the shadows to get in the way of his budding relationship with Elspeth.  Give them each their own powers and it became even more interesting.

Each witch has her own special powers, as did their mothers before them.  Elspeth can heal with the tips of her fingers, or her heart as the case may be.  Caitrin can see the future, even though it may be difficult for her at times.  Blaire is super strong and can make sparks fly from her fingertips.  Rhiannon controls the weather, or at least her emotions do. And Sorcha can ask plants to do her bidding; they might bud, wither and die or stretch across the ground to entangle an overly-amorous Lycan.

Of course, once a character walks into a novel, readers (and the authors) tend to fall in love with them and want to see more of them.  So, when the witches walked into Tall, Dark and Wolfish, we knew they each needed their own story, mainly because it would be such a waste to not use all those spectacular talents to create future mayhem.
 
The members of the Còig came from our imaginations, but there is a bit of truth to the potions and plants they use to accomplish their goals. Not much truth, we admit, but there’s a bit. Eggs and blueberries are reported to be led by the moon, but we did take some creative liberty with them when Elspeth uses them in Tall, Dark and Wolfish. And, yes, we took liberties with other witchy characteristics as well. That’s the beauty of making up your own world – you get to populate it as well. 

We hope you enjoy the antics of the Còig and that you want to read their stories, which will be out by the spring of 2011.

TALL, DARK AND WOLFISH by LYDIA DARE—IN STORES MAY 2010
In Lydia Dare’s debut trilogy, Regency England has gone to the wolves!

He’s lost the most important part of himself…

Lord Benjamin Westfield is a powerful werewolf—until one full moon when he doesn’t change. His life now shattered, he rushes off to Scotland in search of the healer who can restore his inner beast, only to find she’s not at all what he expected…

She would make him whole, if she could…

Young, beautiful witch Elspeth Campbell will do anything to help anyone who calls upon her healing arts. Then Lord Benjamin shows up, and she suddenly discovers she may need him even more than he needs her…

About the Author
Lydia Dare is the writing team of Tammy Falkner and Jodie Pearson. Both Tammy and Jodie are active members of the Heart of Carolina Romance Writers and live near Raleigh, North Carolina. They are working together on their next paranormal historical trilogy as Lydia Dare, which will be released by Sourcebooks Casablanca in Spring 2011! For more information, please visit http://www.lydiadare.com/.

Contest:

Open US and Canada.

2 winners will receive Tall, Dark and Wolfish

Ends May 29th

Thanks for visiting :)

Guestblog + giveaway: Amelia Grey - An Earl to enchant *closed*

Today I welcome Amelia Grey to my blog. I have read all 3 books in her Rogues' dynasty series, and those cousin are sure something special. I also have 2 copies to give away so check the end.

Grandmothers and Heroes

Good morning and thank you for having me on your blog, Blodeuedd!  I’m very happy to be here.

In my Rogues’ Dynasty Series, I’ve often had readers e-mail and ask me, “How did you come up with the Grandmother, her dearest friend Lord Chesterfield and all his quotes?” And I usually start by saying “It wasn’t easy!”

After I decided I was brave enough to write a series, my first thought was that I wanted the books to be centered on the heroes, and I wanted them all to be titled men.  That couldn’t happen with brothers as titles only go to the eldest son. So I had to find another way to connect three titled men.

This is the premise I started with:

Everyone in the ton knew that Lady Elder had tried many times by fair and foul means to force her grandsons to marry.  After all, she had been happily married . . . four times.  Decades earlier she had successfully married off each of her three daughters to titled gentlemen.  And in turn, each daughter had given her a grandson all in the same year.

 The Grandsons, a duke, a marquis, and an earl all turned out to be Rogues of the highest order, notorious for many reasons including their titles, handsome faces and rumored debauchery.  But nothing made them more popular than the fact that all three still remained bachelors in their thirtieth year.  Not even vast fortunes had tempted any of them to propose to any of the young ladies who fancied them.

Their grandmother is now deceased and each grandson deals with the grandmother’s legacy in his own way until a life-altering moment occurs when a very proper young lady arrives, very improperly, at each grandson’s door.  

From A Duke to Die For by Amelia Grey, Sourcebooks Casablanca, © 2009

I always want my heroes to be tall and powerful-looking with wide shoulders and lean hips.   I like for their neckcloths to look as if they have been hastily tied making them appear to be the devilish rogues the gossipmongers claim they are.   My heroes must be strong and commanding but never afraid to show their sensitive side or commit to the woman they love.

And with all that hero material to work, with I knew that their Grandmother, Lady Elder, would have to be a strong character to make an impact because she had already died when the time the first book opens. So I gave her a dear friend, Lord Chesterfield, who was, by the way, a real man who’s letters were first published shortly after his death in 1773 . Check out Lord Chesterfield’s Letters to His Son on Amazon. It’s an amazing book. At the beginning of each chapter and sprinkled throughout the book are quotes from this man.  And to make the books even more fun, I had it where all three of Lady Elder’s grandsons hated hearing anyone quote the man.

But Maybe I can explain the importance of the grandmother a little better by sharing an excerpt from my latest book in the Rogues’ Dynasty Series, An Earl to Enchant which is on sale at your favorite local or online bookstore.

“My grandmother was an exceptional person in many ways, but there were numerous times in my life when I wished she had never met her dear friend Lord Chesterfield. If he had not been almost deaf and infirm when she met him, I believe she would have married him.”

“I think I would like to read Lord Chesterfield’s letters and make up my own mind about him. From what you have told me, he seems such a clever fellow.”

Morgan let out a half laugh, half grunt. “Most people considered him a very wise and humorous man who had an artful way of writing words, but my cousins and I never felt that way.”

“Why is that?”

“From the time we were seventeen until my grandmother’s death, she sent us a letter at the beginning of each month without fail, and they always contained a quote from Chesterfield.”

Arianna gasped. “She penned a letter to all three of you every month? That’s quite amazing.”

“Yes. She always started her letters to me with ‘My dearest grandson, Lucas,’ knowing that no one had called me by my given name since I was twelve. And she always ended her letters with ‘Your loving Grandmother, Lady Elder.’”

“I think that makes her sound very protective of you, and very kind.”

“I’m sure she considered it one of her great missions in life. The only thing her letters ever said was something along the lines of: ‘Here are more wise words from Lord Chesterfield,’ and then she would quote something from the exasperatingly pretentious old man.”
© Amelia Grey, Sourcebooks Casablanca, 2010

I could not be happier with the way The Rogues’ Dynasty Series turned out.  I’m actually thrilled by these books and so excited about how well they are being received by reviewers and readers. Each book stands alone and there are no plotlines carried over to other books.

The first chapter of my latest book An Earl to Enchant, the third book in the Rogues’ Dynasty Series is available on my website. I invite you to stop by and give it a try.

I’m always happy to hear from readers.  Please e-mail me at ameliagrey@comcast.net or visit my website at ameliagrey.com.

Thank you for stopping by Amelia. I never knew Lord Chesterfield was for real, I so want to check out that book now. Now to the contest


GIVEAWAY
I have two copies of An Earl to Enchant to give away to lucky winners.


1. US and Canada only.
2. Ends April 19th.
3. You know the drill, leave your email here if it is not in your profile.

AN EARL TO ENCHANT by AMELIA GREY—IN STORES APRIL 2010
He’s determined not to be a hero…

Lord Morgandale is as notorious as he is dashing, and he’s determined no woman will tie him down. But from the moment Arianna Sweet appears on his doorstep, he cannot resist the lure of her fascinating personality, exotic wardrobe, and tempting green eyes…

She has a deadly secret…

Arianna Sweet never imagined the significance of her father’s research until after his untimely death. Now she is in possession of his groundbreaking discovery, one that someone would kill for. She can’t tell Lord Morgandale her secret, but she knows she needs his help, desperately…

About the Author
Winner of the Booksellers Best Award and the Romantic Times Award for Love and Laughter, Amelia Grey's books have been sold in Europe, Russia and China. Married for twenty-five years to her high school sweetheart, she has lived in Alabama, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and now calls Panama City Beach, Florida, home. For more information, please visit www.ameliagrey.com.