Category: Must Reads

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Percy Jackson- The Sea of Monsters: Rick Riordan

This is book 2 in the Percy Jackson series and it is a great read.
You definitely need to read book one

From Amazon:
In this second adventure in Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, Percy is anticipating the end of seventh grade and a summer at Camp Half-Blood with kids who are the offspring of Greek gods and mortals. He dreams that his pal Grover, a satyr, is in danger. After monsters attack in his school gym class, Percy and Tyson, a homeless kid, are picked up by Annabeth, a half-blood friend, and rushed to the camp, which is under attack. The tree that guards the camp is dying, and Chiron, the activity director, has been dismissed. Another dream reveals that Grover, whose peril is increasing, is on the same island as the legendary Golden Fleece, which may be the cure for the troubled camp. With the help of Hermes, Percy and his pals set off to the Sea of Monsters, where they encounter legendary dangers. Riordan’s clever mix of classical mythology, contemporary teen characters, and an action-packed adventure will bring new readers to the series.

I recommend it (as a series) 4 out of 5 stars

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Percy Jackson- The Lightening Theif: Rick Riordan

So I watched this movie and although I was extremely underwhelmed by the movie, I thought that the underlying story was interesting enough that the book might be a good read.

I remember always seeing these books and thinking I should read them, well when I won an Amazon giftcard in a Mommypotamus giveaway, I decided oh what the heck. I’ll buy the first one.

and…. I liked it!

Think Harry Potter meets Greek Mythology.

The basic premise is a young kid – ADHD, Dyslexic, always getting into trouble – is almost eaten by his Math teacher who happens to be a demon from the Underworld. He soon discovers that his dad is actual Poisden (you know those gods just love to hook up with mortal women) and goes on an adventure unlike any other.

Here is the official Amazon excerpt:
Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school…again. And that’s the least of his troubles. Lately, mythological monsters and the gods of Mount Olympus seem to be walking straight out of the pages of Percy’s Greek mythology textbook and into his life. And worse, he’s angered a few of them. Zeus’s master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect.

Now Percy and his friends have just ten days to find and return Zeus’s stolen property and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus. But to succeed on his quest, Percy will have to do more than catch the true thief: he must come to terms with the father who abandoned him; solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of betrayal by a friend; and unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves. 

This is the first of 5 books in a series.
I totally recommend them!

4 out of 5 stars

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Book Recommendation: Her Mother’s Hope by Francine Rivers

Francine Rivers really changed my life.

That sounds trite, I understand, but she did.

Before I read her, I loved to read and to write, but I never understood the power of words. However, when I read Redeeming Love I realized the power of the written word. How a book can sneak down to your core and heal parts of you that you never knew were broken.

After reading Redeeming Love, I ravaged the rest of the books that she had written and loved every single one of them. But then I was sad because for 7 years, she has not written a full length novel. SEVEN YEARS!

But the wait is over with this incredible story about a mother and daughter’s love spanned through time and generations.
It’s one of those stories that as you see it unfolding, as you understand the hurt and the reasons behind actions you want to cry for Marta, but you know Hildie does not understand. Yet the hurt continues and lays deeper layers of hurt. Ahh! You just want to hug both of them and send them to counseling and let them lay it all out there so that they can both have the relationship they are craving.

As I got towards the end of the book, I realized that there is no way that this story was going to be able to end. And sure enough, when I “virtually” flipped the last page (on my Kindle), I saw that the second part to this Duet will be released later this year.

I’m not going to spoil this story, but it’s a great book. An even greater book to use as a book club piece as it already has the questions in the back.
Go get it right now and read it.

5 out of 5 stars, recommend.

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Catching Fire- Suzanne Collins

This is book 2 of the Hunger Games trilogy.

I really enjoyed the 1st book, Hunger Games, and couldn’t wait for the 2nd one to come out.

But then life happened and I never bought the second one. Then I got my Kindle and they didn’t have a Kindle version available. But then when my brother-in-law was talking about how much he loved Hunger Games, I was determined to get the 2nd installment. So the other day we were downtown and walked by an English bookstore and I ran in and they had it!

I finished it quickly and wished that it wouldn’t end.

The ending of it is definitely more of a cliff hanger than the 1st. The final installment comes out in August and I can’t wait!

So DEFINITELY recommend this series and give it 5 stars!

Amazon Description:
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.

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Hunger Games- Suzanne Collins

Every now and then there comes a book that is really unique.

Like the story isn’t one that I had heard of before. Or if it was, it has a different twist that kept me interested.

Well that’s how I felt about The Hunger Games.

The only thing I didn’t like about it was that I thought it was a little short. I wished that it was longer because I didn’t want it to end.

Great book and I totally recommend it and give it 5 stars.

Here is the Amazon description:
the United States of America has collapsed, weakened by drought, fire, famine, and war, to be replaced by Panem, a country divided into the Capitol and 12 districts. Each year, two young representatives from each district are selected by lottery to participate in The Hunger Games. Part entertainment, part brutal intimidation of the subjugated districts, the televised games are broadcasted throughout Panem as the 24 participants are forced to eliminate their competitors, literally, with all citizens required to watch. When 16-year-old Katniss’ young sister, Prim, is selected as the mining district’s female representative, Katniss volunteers to take her place. She and her male counterpart, Peeta, the son of the town baker who seems to have all the fighting skills of a lump of bread dough, will be pitted against bigger, stronger representatives who have trained for this their whole lives. Collins’ characters are completely realistic and sympathetic as they form alliances and friendships in the face of overwhelming odds; the plot is tense, dramatic, and engrossing.