Back to Blogging!

Hey guys! I know, it's been a while-I've been busy blogging over here at Wordpress. I've decided to come back to Blogger. I'll post book reviews, have updates on new releases, maybe host some giveaways, and will link to free ebooks. Interested? Great! I love blogging, and I can't wait to post some more.

There's also a whole new layout and a new name for the blog. What do you think?

The Sea of Monsters

The Sea of Monsters

Author: Rick Riordan

Pages: [paperback] 279

Available in hardcover and paperback

Sequel to: The Lightning Thief

It's back to school once again for Percy Jackson. He's survived another year, a year that has been surprisingly empty of monster attacks. He's even made a new friend named Tyson. But this is all about to change, because the barriers protecting Camp Half-Blood are fading.

Thalia's tree is dying.

It's a race against time as Percy must team up with a number of allies to find the mythical Golden Fleece, restore Thalia's tree to its regular magical slendor, and save Camp Half-Blood, the only safe haven for half-human, half-god children.

Will Percy succeed in saving the Camp and in turn his friends?

--

This sequel did not disappoint. Percy and his friends were as brave and witty as ever, and I could quote this book all the time, the lines were so funny. It made me smile, wince, gasp, and laugh-every page had a different emotion, and the whole book was as addicting as the first, if not more.

I would recommend this for any fans of the first book. If you haven't read The Lightning Thief, read it. Now. 

If you thought the ending to the first one was a shocker, wait till you read this! It's one you'll never see coming.

Now that I've read this book, I'm 1/6 done my current challenge,

Challenge ;)

I've decided to set a challenge for myself and start the What's in a Name? challenge. It's a six book challenge, and every time I finish a challenge I'm going to start another one. These are the books required, along with which title I've selected to read:

1. A book with a food in the title: Grapes of Wrath

2. A book with a body of water in the title: The Sea of Monsters

3. A book with a title (queen, president) in the title: The Count of Monte Cristo
4. A book with a plant in the title: Wind in the Willows

5. A book with a place name (city, country) in the title: [Haven't found something for this one yet. Suggestions would be amazing!]

6. A book with a music term in the title: The Last Song
 
I don't have to read the books in order, so I've already started the second one. This looks like it's going to be a lot of fun!

The Lightning Thief

The Lightning Thief

Author: Rick Riordan

Pages: [Paperback] 375

Available in Hardcover and Paperback

Percy Jackson has never fit in. He's been enrolled in more schools than he can count and has been kicked out of every single one of them. This time, he's actually managed to stay in the same school almost the entire year. But Percy's about to come face to face with mythological creatures, Greek gods, and monsters worse than any nightmare.

Zeus's master bolt has been stolen and Percy is the prime suspect. Percy has only ten days to prove his innocence or a war will begin between the gods-with Earth as their battlefield. Percy must band together with a few unlikely allies in order to find the bolt, clear his name, and save the Earth.
When I first picked up this book, I wasn't expecting much. It said that it was mainly for kids younger than I am. But when I actually started reading, I was pleasantly surprised. Percy and his friends are so funny, and I love how all of the Greek mythology ties into the story line. I've actually already started reading the second book, this one was so good!
If you've seen the movie, the book is nothing like it. I liked the movie, but the book is so much better because it had more detail.
I give this book five out of five stars. It's a quick read, but it kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time!

"Before I Fall" by Lauren Oliver

"Before I Fall"

Author: Lauren Oliver

Pages: 448

Release Date: March 2, 2010

What would you do if you only had one day left to live?

Samantha Kingston is one of the popular girls at school. She has all the right clothes, the perfect boyfriend, and three best friends who are just as popular as her. She is invited to all the best parties and is worshiped by the underclassmen. But all of this changes one Friday, February 12th, when Sam dies.

Sam thinks it's all over for her. Then she wakes up the next morning in her bedroom, reliving the day she died. As Sam relives this day seven times, she sees things she's never thought to look for before. She examines her friendships, her love life, and her family life. But how can Sam make her last day her best day?

I thought that this was a very good book. It was captivating and took my interest immediately. I like how it shows that the days we take for granted-the simplest, most meaningless days-can be our last, and we'll never realize this until it's too late. This book shows how people can change, they just need the chance to make this change. It tells us that we need to appreciate every day and every moment and the people that make our lives worth living.

I would recommend this book to young adult readers. Sam is in high school, yet you don't have to be in high school to enjoy this book. Fans of the movie "Groundhog's Day" would also like "Before I Fall".

I give this book five out of five stars. At no point did it drag on-I was addicted to it from the start.

I got an Advanced Reading Copy [ARC] of this book from Barnes and Noble First Reads. If you go on their website, you can find First Reads under their book clubs. There you can apply to recieve advanced copies of books.