The Queen By: Steven James

This book has been the best in the series. Just enough to think that you know where it's going but then it changes. Hope he writes more in the series.

 

While investigating a double homicide in an isolated northern Wisconsin town, FBI Special Agent Patrick Bowers uncovers a high-tech conspiriacy that twist through long-buried Cold War secrets and targets present-day tensions in the Middle East.

Fear By: Sammi Strasser

This short-story is not at all the kind of thing I read. I think that is probably the reason that I disliked it so much.

A girl and a demon. Will he claim her, or will she see the light of a new day?

Santa's Greatest Gift By: Rebecca Gittrich Whitecotton

This is a cute letter from Santa explaining the meaning of Christmas. It would be a great way to help little kids as they grow up and grow out of Santa. One of my favorite parts "You may wonder why this knowledge is my gift to give. Many people believe that I, Santa Claus, take away from the real meaning of Christmas. They say Santa is simply built on material things and greediness, which go against the teachings of Jesus. But Santa Claus is not really about toys as much as about the spirit of giving, in secret. It's about the giving for the simple reason of seeing joy and happiness on a child's face, with no expectation of something in return. In my purest form, Santa Claus is the perfect example of the Giving Spirit, just as Jesus was the perfect example of the Christ Spirit (pg 13, nook ebook edition).

Rumors are flying that Santa is not real, and that he takes away from the true meaning of Christmas. Santa responds to these accusations, revealing his true identity and shedding light on the Christ Spirit present in every soul on earth. It is Santa's hope that the peace of Christmas will be found through the recognition of the Giving Spirit and the Christ Spirit inside ourselves and others.

Every Girl Does It By: Rachel Van Dyken

This book was so funny!!!! I honestly couldn't stop laughing. I read the beginning to my family because my sister also turned down a guy to prom. She was happy that hers wasn't quiet dramatic. I don't like to read books twice but this one I definitely would. Could make a pretty funny movie too!! 

Amanda turned down Preston's prom invitation in front of her entire high school, but that was eight years ago.

Somehow, her past mistakes always have a way of catching up with her, and making her pay. Amanda's sarcastic wit mixed with Preston's insufferable ego make sparks fly in more than one way.

Preston, against his better judgment can't fight the desire to get under Amanda's skin and mercilessly tease her, but when that teasing becomes flirting, and flirting becomes something dangerously more, neither of them are prepared for the adventure that follows.

Percy Jackson Book 1 By: Rick Riordan

This was a really good book. I have seen the movie and I compared them the whole way. I can’t wait to read the second one before the movie comes out. If you have any differences that I forgot let me know!

Differences between the movie and the book:

•          Percy is a teenager / twelve-year-old.
•          Mrs. Dodds attacks Percy with Chiron and Grover present / Grover and Chiron along with the rest of the school don’t remember Ms. Dodds.
•          Percy’s father left when he was seven months old / Left before he was ever born.
•          The archway leading into camp / Pine tree (Zeus daughter).
•          Pearls gotten from three locations / Gets pearls when he visits the Santa Monica pier.
•          Percy, Grover and Annabeth sneak out of camp / Percy is given a quest and they are chosen to go with him.
•          Persephone hates the Underworld and helps them leave / Persephone is always for her allotted time.
•          Grover stays behind in the Underworld so Sally can leave / Sally stays in the Underworld.
•          No poodle / The take the poodle back to his owners to help pay for their passage
•          Zeus lightning bolt has been stolen / The lightning bolt and Hades helm.
•          Luke steals the bolt and gives it to Percy to take unknowingly to Hades / Luke gives it to Ares and he gives it to Percy to take to Kronos.
•          No major mention of Kronos / He is trying to raise from the pit and take over Olympus again.
•          No Gateway Arch / Percy falls out of the arch and is visited by a Nereid who gives him advice.
•          After leaving camp the go to New Jersey, Nashville, Las Vegas, Underworld, Olympus, Camp / New Jersey, St. Louis, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Underworld, Olympus, Apartment, Camp Half-Blood.
•          No zebra / Percy is able to talk to the Zebra on the way to Las Vegas.
•          Sally kicks Gabe out / Sally turns him into a statue and sells him as “The Poker Player”.
•          Gabe does a small interview / Gabe goes on tons of shows and convinces everyone that Percy is dangerous.
•          Percy gets Grover back as a favor from Zeus / As soon as Hades helm is returned he frees Sally.
•          No major mention of Ares / Ares appears several times and the have a major fight towards the end.
•          Percy and Annabeth fight against each other in capture the flag / They fight on the same team.
•          Mrs. Dobbs doesn’t come back / Mrs. Dobbs forgives Percy when she finds that he was telling the truth about the helm.
•          Percy uses the flying shoes / Percy doesn’t use the shoes because the air is Zeus area.

Monsters:

•          No old-lady-monsters at bus stop / Ladies knitting his fate.
•           Medusas’ head is taken in case they need it later / Percy sends it to the Gods.
•          No Chihuahua / Percy is attacked by a Chimera (assumed Chihuahua) and an old lady.
•          No Procrustes / Fits people to his six-foot water beds. To long you get trimmed to short you get stretched.
•    No monster at the entry to Hades house / Three headed dog that likes red balls.

After learning that he is the son of a mortal woman and Poseidon, god of the sea, twelve-year-old Percy is sent to a summer camp for demigods like himself, and joins his new friends on a quest to prevent a war between the gods.