24. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Oh my gosh I couldn't get my hands on this book fast enough! After reading Hunger Games last month it was excruciatingly painful to have to wait for a month for the second installment. In this book, Katniss and Peetra have returned from the Hunger Games as joint victors. This was a first in the history of the games and due to an underlying "star-crossed lovers" ideology. Once they are home Katniss is so happy to see Gale and her family and get back into her normal routine, aside from the upgraded home in Victor's Village and the money! All is going well until President Snow pays a visit to Katniss at her home, after she has been hunting beyond the fence again, which is highly illegal by the way. She is informed that there is the threat of uprising in the districts and if she doesn't make the fairytale and very fake romance seem real to everyone that there will be stringent consequences in store for her. To throw another wrench into the situation this year's games is one of the "special" ones that only happens every 25 years. The twist this year is that the tributes will be selected from the previous victors from each district. Being that district 12 only has three victors, 2 male and 1 female, this means that Katniss will be entering the arena again with either Peetra or Haymitch!

Once she reenters the arena this time around, Katniss is an entirely different person. Her attitude is one of acceptance of her certain death and she seems to be indifferent to the possibility of never again seeing her family or Gale. I will not spoil the ending for those that haven't read it yet but I will say that the twists and turns continue and I can't believe I have to wait an entire year for the next book!

23. High Heels are Murder by Elaine Viets

This is he second installment in the Mystery Shopper series featuring Josie Marcus, my favorite sleuth shopper. This one started out with what I thought was a steamy scene from Josie's high school days but turned out to be her present reality. Josh and her seem to be getting hot and heavy...we will see where this goes. In this story, Josie is to mystery shop a shoe store where a very slimy salesman named Mel seems to be a little too interested in women's feet if you know what I mean. Unfortunately for Mel he gets fired and then permanently silenced. I do enjoy the fact that the nosy neighbor is snubbed in this one. A great read that makes me want to continue to see how the next assignment goes.

22. Homicide in Hardcover by Kate Carlisle

This is the first book in the Bibliophile series and I cannot wait for the next one. Unfortunately I read faster than she writes and this book was released this year so I am sure I will have at least 6 months to wait. This story was intriguing from the very beginning. Brooklyn, a book restorer, is put in charge of Faust by Goethe. Of course this book is said to carry a curse but she does not believe it at all. From the description of the Covington library I absolutely want to go there, but of course it is fiction so it will remain a place in my mind. A handsome British detective also plays into the plot and boy is he a catch. After Brooklyn's mentor Abraham is viciously murdered in the splendid library with the Faust found in his jacket with his arms wrapped around it, she is determined to find out who has done this. But will she be able to find out who done it before she becomes another victim?

Definitely a 5/5

21. Cherry Cheesecake Murder by Joanne Fluke

It's Hannah Swensen again!! This follows after the proposal in Peach Cobbler and I wanted to know what happened. I loved this one because a new love interest entered the picture. Boy did Mike & Norman have a fit of jealously! Main street became the scene of a Hollywood movie and murder. The prop gun apparently was not a prop after all and Hannah has to figure out who did it.

20. Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

OMG this was such an amazing read. This book is a young adult novel but it was absolutely captivating. I really enjoyed her Gregor series and this one did not disappoint me at all. This story reminds me of Shirley Jackson's 'The Lottery' in context. Katniss is such a wonderful main character and the relationship between her Pietra is a nice one to follow. I hope it continues in the next one. The next book comes out September 1st and I cannot wait. I am hoping for a midnight release party!