"Million" Dollar Cliffhanger

I finished off "The Millionaire Mistress" by Tiphani yesterday during an emergency shopping trip! It actually turned out to be pretty good, in spite of some "ghetto" drama! Oshyn's cousin (who is eventually revealed to be her sister)Chloe murdered Apples (Oshyn's best friend), as well as Oshyn's son Micah! I questioned earlier whether or not it was worth it to get the sequels, but after the cliffhanger ending Tiphani closed the book with, I have no choice but to look into the rest of the story! Until I do, I will pick up where I left off with "The Hunger Games" trilogy and read "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins!

SUMMARY
Every year in Panem, the dystopic nation that exists where the U.S. used to be, the Capitol holds a televised tournament in which two teen "tributes" from each of the surrounding districts fight a gruesome battle to the death. In The Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark, the tributes from impoverished District Twelve, thwarted the Gamemakers, forcing them to let both teens survive. In this rabidly anticipated sequel, Katniss, again the narrator, returns home to find herself more the center of attention than ever. The sinister President Snow surprises her with a visit, and Katniss’s fear when Snow meets with her alone is both palpable and justified. Catching Fire is divided into three parts: Katniss and Peeta’s mandatory Victory Tour through the districts, preparations for the 75th Annual Hunger Games, and a truncated version of the Games themselves. Slower paced than its predecessor, this sequel explores the nation of Panem: its power structure, rumors of a secret district, and a spreading rebellion, ignited by Katniss and Peeta’s subversive victory. Katniss also deepens as a character. Though initially bewildered by the attention paid to her, she comes almost to embrace her status as the rebels’ symbolic leader. Though more of the story takes place outside the arena than within, this sequel has enough action to please Hunger Games fans and leaves enough questions tantalizingly unanswered for readers to be desperate for the next installment.
I hope it won't take me as long to get through "Catching Fire" as it did to get through "The Hunger Games!" The rest of my literary year is already planned out! After I finish with the last 2 books of the "Hunger Games" trilogy-"Catching Fire" & "Mockingjay"-I want to finish the year by reading 2 of the forthcoming novels from Richard Paul Evans-"Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25" (Release Date: August 9, 2011) and "Lost December" (Release Date: October 4, 2011)

"Mistress" is Missing Something!

I'm more than halfway through Tiphani's "The Millionaire Mistress," and find myself wondering "Why did I pick up this book?" It's not boring, especially the realistic rivalry between Oshyn and her cousin Chloe for their grandmother's affections. But it's still missing something. I will give Tiphani credit for creating a seemingly (so far) decent character like Brooklyn Jones. But I'm beginning to reconsider purchasing the remaining 2 books in the series, "Still a Mistress: The Saga Continues" and "Millionaire Mistress 3 (The Mistress)." I've read erotic novels in the past, but this one isn't in the same league as those by J. Tremble or even Danielle Steel, whose sexual innuendos are much more toned down than they are in the urban erotic novels! However, I will refrain from passing final judgment until I have read the final page and put the book down!