To my faithful readers:

This sequel has been posted earlier than originally planned (I wanted a few chapters ready to go) in honor of a very special woman in my life, my math tutor. She passed away today, April 12th 2012, after a long battle with Leukemia. She not only saved my math grade so I could continue writing, but also inspired me everyday to live life to the fullest. To all those days when I sat in her driveway writing When Roses are A Luxury when I was early, or her musical laughter when she saw more stories than math notes in my notebook. She never lost hope in me, and I wouldn't be the person I am without her.

Recap of When Roses Are a Luxury:

December Snow, daughter of President Snow, thought she understood the world, but now everything is changing. It wasn't perfect, that she knew with a mother who paid more attention to her two siblings, one of which is very ill with an unknown and uncurable disease since he was injured during an assassination attempt on the family in his early childhood. Her life of being the adored rose of Panem was thrown into chaos when she met Thresh, a boy from district 11. In one year, they fall in love beside the differences of their lives. Yet, as that year comes to a close, Thresh is reaped for the 74th Hunger Games. Her friendships with the mentors and past Victors start to change as she realizes that maybe they aren't all on her side, on her father's side when she is desperate to save the boy she loves.

However, she finds help in an unlikely place; Darren Broderson, son of her father's chief advisor. After professing his love for her, Darren turned to her twin sister, May, for romance but made it quite clear December would always be the one capturing his heart. When he learns of her relationship with Thresh, Darren offers to help in getting him home safely if she agrees to marry him for public sake.

But they lose, with great sacrifice including December's direct murder of her grandmother to keep the secret, and Thresh is lost to the will of the Games. However, Snows don't blame themselves. It isn't in their blood to be wrong. December pushes her blame on the new rising star of Panem; Katniss Everdeen, the Girl on Fire.

The first installment of this two part series ends with the start of the Quarter Quell, in which December is ready to watch and Peeta die in return for what they have that she lost. It doesn't matter anymore that Haymitch, a role model of her childhood, has chosen the Girl on Fire over her. December Everett Snow will not lose again.