The Emerald City Writers’ Conference was a fabulous success, but it was still nice to rejuvenate from conference fever on the beach in Kona on the big island of Hawaii. I wrote by the pool, read a stack of books, snorkeled with colorful fish and sea turtles, hiked through Volcanoes National Park, viewed lava rolling into the sea, and got up close and personal with manta rays.

THE HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins

A few of the agents and editors at the conference were raving about this post-apocalyptic YA novel. I became so absorbed in the story that I didn’t notice when my shade moved and ended up with a toasty lobster-red burn on my chest. Classic. Hunger Games is a cross between SHADE’S CHILDREN (Nix) and COUNTDOWN (Maddox). It’s fast paced and enjoyable, though I wish it had more rebellion in it and less playing the system. Hopefully book 2, CATCHING FIRE, will deliver.

When her little sister is drawn for the lottery to be the next contestant in their district for the deadly Hunger Games, Katniss volunteers to go in her place. She is joined by Peeta, a seemingly easy-going, kind-hearted baker’s son, and together they take on contestants from the other 11 districts in a televised battle to the death.

WELCOME TO TEMPTATION by Jennifer Crusie

I’ve been hearing about Crusie, a giant of romantic comedy, for years, but hadn’t tried her until now. Why, oh why, did I wait so long?? Her books are funny, sexy and sweet. I’ve been devouring her backlist ever since. WELCOME TO TEMPTATION is still my favorite. I love the crooked Dempsey family and Phin, the seemingly straight-edged mayor, whose bent streak is revealed as he succumbs to temptation.

Sophie arrives in the one horse town of Temptation with her artistic sister and a video camera planning to shoot a come-back film for  Clea, an aging actress whose bombshell looks leave a trail of broken hearts starting here in her hometown. Phineus Tucker is the mayor of Temptation, as generations of Tuckers have been before him, and he knows with one look that Sophie’s arrival in his quiet town means Trouble with a capital “T”.

I also read Crusie’s BET ME, FAKING IT, GETTING RID OF BRADLEY, STRANGE BEDPERSONS and Lisa Kleypas’s A WALLFLOWER CHRISTMAS on the trip. Now I’m back in a rainy, gloomy Seattle autumn getting ready for my favorite holiday Halloween!

Tags: Jennifer Crusie, Kona Hawaii, Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games, Welcome to Temptation