Brandee's Bookish Babble #34 ~ Are We More Forgiving with Favorite Authors?

Welcome to Brandee's Bookish Babble. There are many, many similar posts to this one - but basically I wanted a place to discuss bookish and/or blogging stuff and I needed a title. :) 

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Before I start, I just want to preface this with the qualification that with this post, I'm referring to indie authors. 

I recently read a book by an author that was recommended by a friend. In fact, it's a favorite author of this friend. While I was reading, I kept finding editing errors. This is just something that I'm particularly sensitive to - I don't even read the newspaper anymore because I can't handle the editing mistakes. Now I know none of us are perfect - I find editing issues in my own writing as well - but finding these mistakes got me to wondering. Are we more forgiving of such things with our favorite authors?

I'm leaning towards YES in my case. Several of my favorite authors are indie and while I know they use an editor - I've even met one's editor - I still find editing errors. But I don't mind too much even if I'm temporarily removed from the flow of the story - because the story is so good! It's compelling and emotional so I'm easily pulled right back in. The book that started my pondering...it was a good story as well but I think that since it was an author I was unfamiliar with I was a little less forgiving. It took me a little longer to re-engage because I don't yet have that trust built with the author. But I could see myself getting there with this one. ;)

Anyway, what about y'all? Are you more forgiving of editing issues when it's a favorite author?

Brandee's Bookish Babble #32 ~ Goodreads & Friends

Welcome to Brandee's Bookish Babble. There are many, many similar posts to this one - but basically I wanted a place to discuss bookish and/or blogging stuff and I needed a title. :) 

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I have a question for y'all. How do y'all decide whose friendship to accept on Goodreads? Do you accept everyone who sends a friend request? Do you compare books before deciding? I know some of you use the "ask a question" function - do you always accept if the person answers? 

I'm asking because I used to accept anyone who asked. But in the last year or so, I've gotten friend requests from people with weird pseudonyms, people with 5000 friends and 3 books on their shelves, people with whom I only have 2 books in common... essentially a lot of people that I'm not understanding their motivation behind requesting my friendship. So I got to wondering how y'all handle it. I have accepted requests from folks who are authors if they write in a genre I'm interested in. I've accepted if we have books in common on our shelves. It's just that I feel the need to be pickier at this point - I want to understand why the request was sent because if we don't read the same things, are we really going to connect? If not, it's just adding clutter to my feed.

How do y'all feel? Am I being ridiculous? Am I even making sense?!?

Brandee's Bookish Babble #31 ~ Goodreads & Comments

Welcome to Brandee's Bookish Babble. There are many, many similar posts to this one - but basically I wanted a place to discuss bookish and/or blogging stuff and I needed a title. :) 

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I have a rather embarrassing confession. For as much as I love and use Goodreads, I'm not very social on it. And - this is the confession part - I was recently trying to "clean up" and discovered I had lots of messages. Unread messages! Some of which were over 3 years old! Gah! And while most were about things it didn't matter I'd missed, there were a few personal ones. Eep! A few were from people who'd started following me because they found my blog (one through Berls)...one was from a neighbor friend. Needless to say, I was mortified. And so very embarrassed. Embarrassed by the lack of attention I gave to this functionality on Goodreads. And even more embarrassed by the perception I'd probably given - that of my indifference. Neither was intentional. I've been on Goodreads for years but no one really interacted with me until I began blogging. So it wasn't that I didn't care - it was simply that it hadn't become a habit to pay attention to these notifications.

I have learned a valuable lesson though. I will be more attuned to people reaching out to me - in all the various way available. I feel terribly that I may have lost a follower or two - maybe even someone who would have been a great book friend - because of this oversight but if you were one that messaged me way back then, please know I wasn't intentionally ignoring you. Each and every one of you is important to me! And I promise I'm paying attention now. :D

What about y'all? Any faux pas perpetrated via Goodreads or other social media outlet? Any valuable lessons you've learned you'd like to share?

Beyond the Books ~ Ten Things You Always Wanted to Know About Me...

Welcome to Bookworm Brandee Beyond the Books. This post was inspired by Lexxie @Unconventional Bookviews' Up Close and (Un)conventional, who was inspired by Cuddlebuggery. It's meant to be a way for y'all to get to know me better on a personal level ~ Beyond the Books. ;)

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...and were too afraid to ask. ;)

• I have a degree in English Literature...and in Economics. I'd planned on going to law school but changed my mind. 
• I'm an accomplished procrastinator. I come from a long line of procrastinators and I've ensured my legacy having progeny who also procrastinate exceedingly well.
• I'm particular about my pens. Since I hand write my reviews as well as discussion posts, it's of special importance I have my favorite pens on hand. My favorite brand? Uniball Signo. I have them in every color.
• Before I got married, I'd never:
• owned a CD
• owned a computer
• traveled much outside the state of Texas
• I became a coffee addict at the ripe old age of 40! I started drinking coffee in my hot chocolate, then moved to flavored creamer. Now I drink it black.
• I'm originally from Texas (I've lived in Colorado for 18 years). I grew up with grandparents who farmed and spent a great deal of time around mud, animals, gardens, and snakes. And yet, I'd never owned a pair of cowboy boots until two years ago.
• My grandma, mom, and I are all spaced 20 years apart, meaning my grandma is 86, my mom is 66, and I'll be 46 next month. I, however, broke the streak!
• In my family, I've managed to get the 1/4 genetic possibilities (using simple Punnet squares)
• green eyes - everyone else has blue or brown
• poor eyesight - I was legally blind before I had Lasik
• low blood pressure - they worry because it's so low
• O Negative blood type
• although not genetic, I'm the oddball liberal in a family full of conservatives
• I talk to my cats...and myself. A lot. Especially myself. My kids laugh at me but, as I've told them repeatedly, sometimes I'm the only one who listens to me!
• At one time I kept my hardback books pristine, never wanting to crease the spine, damage the dust jacket, fold a page... Now I've decided that having sticky tabs, notes in the margins, and *gasp* dog-eared pages is my way of showing my love for the book.

There you have it! Ten things you've always wanted to know...okay, maybe you didn't really know you wanted to know these things about me. But now you do. Thanks for listening reading!

#ShelfLove Discussion ~ Books Languishing the Longest...

This quarter's #ShelfLove discussion is about books that have been languishing on my shelves the longest. Honestly, I have so many choices! But I decided to pick one from my physical shelf, and two from my virtual shelves - one from my nook and one from my kindle.

The Good German by Joseph Kanon has been on my physical shelf FOREVER. I can't explain why. I've had this book since 2001 and I was so excited to receive a copy from the publisher. I ran a book club at the time and somehow got a copy - the publisher hoping I'd pick it for book club, I'm sure. Anyway, it's still sitting on my TBR shelf.










A Hidden Fire by Elizabeth Hunter has been on my Nook since 2012. I heard about The First Ever Indie Convention, hosted by authors including Colleen Hoover and Jillian Dodd, held in Chicago back in 2012. I couldn't attend but decided to read a book from each of the authors attending. I *know* I'm going to love this but for some reason, this is one I've never gotten around to reading. :(








Overwhelm Me by A.C. Marchman has been on my Kindle since 2013. Heck, I *bought* my Kindle in order to read this book and several others that I'd found were only available on Kindle. And again, I cannot tell you why I haven't gotten around to reading it, but I haven't. It's another one I'm certain I'm going to love but... *sigh* I'll get around to reading it eventually.









So what about y'all? Are there books you've had lying around FOREVER?? Why is it you haven't read it/them yet?? Is it just a matter of time?!? Or you just not interested anymore?? Why have you let them languish?

Brandee's Bookish Babble #30 ~ Kindle vs Nook

Welcome to Brandee's Bookish Babble. There are many, many similar posts to this one - but basically I wanted a place to discuss bookish and/or blogging stuff and I needed a title. :) 

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While writing my post on Kindle vs Nook pricing, I got to thinking maybe those of you with only one or the other might like a comparison of the two. Now, I'm not doing a sales pitch for either - there won't be any technical specs here. This is more of an illustration of the differences in ease of use - in my opinion. If you have questions, please feel free to ask. I just thought this would be a fun thing to do.

My ereading journey began with a First Generation Nook. Sadly, the last working model in my household recently died. :( Anyway, don't laugh but I own 2 Nook Simple Touches (one with Glowlight, one without), a Kindle Paperwhite, and a Kindle Fire. But here I'm comparing my Kindle Paperwhite and my Nook Glowlight.

In my opinion, the Nook's design is more comfortable to hold. I don't use a cover so this is strictly about how the device feels in my hand. The Nook has some curves and indentations (well, it did - the new design does not) which makes it easier to grip.

The Lookup function on the Kindle is easier to use. All I have to do is touch the word (hold for a second or so) and the definition pops up. On the Nook it works similarly but it pops up a menu asking me what I want to do instead of just giving me the definition.

The Highlight function is world's better on the Kindle. I simply touch the screen where I want the highlight to start, drag my finger to where I want it to end, and then tap Highlight. I can even add notes. Nook has this functionality but it's much clumsier.

Nook makes organizing books easy with its Create Shelves feature. I have shelves for Netgalley, COYER, ARCs, etc. I love this feature. It is a little cumbersome having to go through the list of books in your library but worth it. Kindle allows you create Collections but the whole process is cumbersome. I have to go through my entire library and can only add one book at a time. And y'all, I have A LOT of books. Like A LOT!! ;)

Kindle makes reviewing ARCs easier in that I can send .doc files to my Kindle and then read. Nook can't convert. I can read PDF files on Nook but it's just an easier process on Kindle.

Kindle also wins when it comes to archiving or removing a book from your device. All I have to do it touch the cover and a menu pops up with the option to remove (or delete) the file from my device. The file stays in the cloud - it's just not hogging memory on my device. And yeah, I need the memory because I have A LOT of books. ;) With Nook, archiving is done through the website, so it's more work.

I've found the Search option within books to be better on Nook. They work similarly on both devices but Nook's result system seems to work better. On some Kindle books (in review copies I forgive this) I get a message that the file isn't set up for searching - not indexes. What?!?

I've found navigating within books similar on both devices.

Overall, it seems Kindle is easier to use but I really enjoy reading on both. And I adore having my digital library so handy!


What about y'all? What are your favorite features in your ereader? Which do you own?

Brandee's Bookish Babble #29 ~ Dilemma

Welcome to Brandee's Bookish Babble. There are many, many similar posts to this one - but basically I wanted a place to discuss bookish and/or blogging stuff and I needed a title. :) 

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I was recently in a used bookstore and happened upon an ARC for sale on the shelf. I know it was an ARC because it clearly states so on the cover and it's one I happened to procure while at BEA. I was torn over what to do though. This is a new business in town - they've only been open for a year. Do I tell the owner that it's illegal to be selling the ARC? Do I keep my mouth shut? How will I feel if they *are* aware and put it on the shelf anyway?

Has this happened to any of y'all? What did you do?

Brandee's Bookish Babble #28 ~ Cliffhangers & Ratings

Welcome to Brandee's Bookish Babble. There are many, many similar posts to this one - but basically I wanted a place to discuss bookish and/or blogging stuff and I needed a title. :) 

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I've noticed something recently and wondered what y'all might think about it... that would be a startling number of 1-Star reviews being left for books because they have cliffhangers. Now, I know some readers have very strong feelings when it comes to cliffies, but... Would you really rate a perfectly well-written book a 1-Star simply because the author left you hanging at the end? I've been comments like, "just another ploy to get more money" and "not a complete book." Um, I kinda think a 200-300 page book is complete. And a 200-300 page book for $2.99 or less? That's a bargain! There may just be more to the story. And a lot of the time, that's not something I'm going to complain about.

Okay so, I'm in the camp that doesn't mind a cliffhanger. But again, I'd not give a low rating for one - or for something that I have a personal bias against. My low ratings are about substance and I try to give constructive criticism in my reviews if there's something I don't like about a book. That's just me though...

What about y'all? How do y'all feel about it?

Brandee's Bookish Babble #27 ~ Challenges ~ Love 'Em or Hate 'Em?

Welcome to Brandee's Bookish Babble. There are many, many similar posts to this one - but basically I wanted a place to discuss bookish and/or blogging stuff and I needed a title. :) 

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Challenges. I have a love/hate relationship with them, honestly. On the one hand, I'm kinda goal-oriented (at least I accomplish more if I have a set goal) but on the other hand, they cause me a lot of stress!

This year, I reduced the number of challenges I participated in, thinking to reduce my stress. And I've done well with a few of those challenges. However, there are several challenges I'm not doing so well with - one I've even failed - and that causes me to feel pressure and guilt...and stress. Even with my Goodreads Challenge, I got a few books behind and the pressure was ridiculous. I have a physical reaction!

So in making blogging/reading plans for next year, I've thought about reducing the number of challenges I participate in once again. But I think what I've decided on is to reduce the number of books I'll read for the challenges. Hopefully that will alleviate the stress. I'll be sure to let y'all know how this works out for me at the end of next year. :D

What about y'all? Do y'all do challenges? Why or why not? How do you deal with the stress?

Brandee's Bookish Babble #26 ~ To Freebie or Not to Freebie?

Welcome to Brandee's Bookish Babble. There are many, many similar posts to this one - but basically I wanted a place to discuss bookish and/or blogging stuff and I needed a title. :) 

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I don't think I'm telling y'all anything you don't already know when I say, "Hi, I'm Brandee and I'm a book hoarder." It doesn't matter if it's digital or physical copies, I procure more books than I can possibly read and I do it lightning speed. Lately, I've been one-clicking freebies like nobody's business...like I *need* more books. And it got me to thinking... 

What are y'all's freebie-clicking habits? Do you automatically one-click because "hey, they're free!" Do you read the synopsis first before deciding whether or not to pull the trigger? Do you one-click only if it's an author you know? Or only if the rating is 4-star?

I'm really curious about your habits and here's why... I feel as though I use discretion with freebies because even though they cost me nothing monetarily, they cost me space on my ereader. (and y'all, I have FOUR!) I check the rating, read the synopsis, read a few reviews - both positive and negative - before I engage my finger. But I'm thinking this isn't enough - I don't know, caution? When I started preparing for the COYER Blackout challenge (which begins this Saturday) I created a shelf of freebies (and 99 cent steals) and I stopped when I realized I was already at 350 books! That's more than I can read in 2 years! So now I'm thinking I need a new filter - one to help me in refraining from all the willy-nilly one-clicking. Any ideas? Maybe a "will I read this within a few months?" approach where if the answer is "no", I don't click?

Opinions? Suggestions?? Therapy ideas??

#ShelfLove Discussion ~ Year-End Wrap-up

As part of the #ShelfLove Challenge, we have monthly discussion topics. December's topic is The Year-End Wrap-up.  

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#ShelfLove 2016 Wrap-up

Highs:

• So far, I've read 69 books which is 12 more than last year. Of those books, 24 were physical books which were moved from my TBR shelves to my Read shelves. I read enough physical books this year to require a major shift on my Read shelves. Score!
• I co-hosted with the ladies at Chapter Break and Second Run Reviews - my first time to do such a thing. :)

Lows:

• I still added books to my shelves and did so faster than I can read them. In my defense, many, if not most, were free as I acquired them at book events like BEA or one-clicked.
• I feel like I failed as a co-host. I didn't visit as much as I'd have liked and I didn't participate enough on social media. Also, I had technical glitches with graphics and link-ups because I'm just not as technically savvy as my cohorts. ;)

Will I do it again?

Absolutely! I love the #ShelfLove Challenge. It gives me a goal as well as a sense of accomplishment to know I'm reading books I already own - most of which I've owned for awhile. ;) As for hosting, I supposed I'd be up for trying again if the ladies would have me.

What about y'all? What bookish item(s) are you most thankful for?

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Brandee's Bookish Babble #25 ~ Pricing: Amazon vs B&N

Welcome to Brandee's Bookish Babble. There are many, many similar posts to this one - but basically I wanted a place to discuss bookish and/or blogging stuff and I needed a title. :) 

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If you aren't an owner of both a Kindle and a nook, you may never have noticed the occasional differences between prices on ebooks. Having started out with a nook and only gotten a kindle because so many indie authors were choosing Amazon as the publishing platform, the price discrepancies are things I noticed and wondered at. I did a little research and thought I'd share my understanding of pricing with y'all.

Full disclosure - I was, until recently, a bookseller for B&N. 

For the most part, ebook pricing is set by the publisher. (I'll get to indies in a moment.) Therefore, in order to make a profit as the book seller, the set price must be charged. Amazon, because of the business model, tax situation, and the number of products they sell other than books, can offer books below the publisher's set price. Why? Because they can make up the loss elsewhere. For example, they can run an ebook normally priced at, say, $9.99 for $0.99 because they make enough money on selling a particular electronic product to make up the loss. Walmart and Target have similar business models and can offer books at discounted rates. B&N, however, because they primarily sell books, cannot do that. As a result, they lose business because consumers would rather spend less (which I can appreciate) so they're in a catch-22 situation.

As for indie authors, I think if they've published on multiple platforms, their pricing eventually matches across those platforms. Sometimes we, as consumers, have to notify the different platforms of the lower price elsewhere but it seems they all get it right. However, I have noticed a lower price on Amazon only quite often and I have a feeling (no evidence) that the author did this because Amazon tends to be their top selling platform and this helps sales numbers.

So, there's your lesson for the day - as far as I understand it. :D

#ShelfLove Discussion ~ The Bookish Item I'm Most Thankful For...

As part of the #ShelfLove Challenge, we have monthly discussion topics. November's topic is The Bookish Item I'm Most Thankful For.  

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My most favorite bookish item, the one I'm most grateful for...well, I'm stretching it here a bit but I'm going to say my bookshelves. I love that they were gifts from my Hubs, so that makes them even more special. And I love having a way to showcase my books - a tangible way to display my passion for reading. Having all my books on shelves is my own little slice of heaven. Being able to be surrounded by them is a joy. Of course, it also showcases my addiction since my shelves are full to bursting despite participating in #ShelfLove. But we won't go there... *wink*

What about y'all? What bookish item(s) are you most thankful for?

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#ShelfLove Discussion ~ My Ultimate Christmas Wishlist

As part of the #ShelfLove Challenge, we have monthly discussion topics. Otctober's topic is The Ultimate Christmas Wishlist.  

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I'm really not one of those people who starts thinking of Christmas early. I have 3 fall birthdays in my household, kids who love Halloween... point is, I don't usually start thinking about Christmas until after Thanksgiving. So is it terrible to admit I've thought about one thing I'd really like for Christmas? Well, I have. And I thoughts of this one thing before I start preparing this post. :)

This one thing is: a subscription to The Bookworm Box. I love the surprise of opening the box having no idea what'll be in it but knowing I'll love it anyway. And I really love that all proceeds go to charity.

So that's one thing. 

The one I thought of in relation to this post? Signed books from my favorite authors. But seeing as I'm going to RT next May where I'll get to see many of my favorite authors AND get them to sign books, I suppose I can let my registration and trip to Atlanta count as my gift. :D

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Brandee's Bookish Babble #24 ~ Commenting Woes

Welcome to Brandee's Bookish Babble. There are many, many similar posts to this one - but basically I wanted a place to discuss bookish and/or blogging stuff and I needed a title. :) So this is my new discussion feature.

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Are any of you who use Blogger and a second party commenting app experiencing issues with people being able to comment? I use Disqus and I chose it because:

1. I was getting so many spam comments and Blogger's solutions only served to cause more problems
2. I liked Disqus' quick and easy response - I liked using it on others' blogs and it made for easier replying
3. I had encountered a few problems with Comment Luv on others' blogs so I chose Disqus

BUT... I'm having issues. I've had blogging friends unable to leave comments or even see the comment section. *gasp* What?? Earlier this year, I researched problems with Disqus. I thought maybe it had to do with servers in foreign countries so I made a change to my HTML code and it seemed to help. However, the issue reappeared again, so... That I'm aware of, this issue has only affected international peeps. If you're in the US and have experienced problems commenting on my blog, could you let me know, please? And if you're a Blogger/Disqus user, are you having any issues? Anyone know a solution??

#ShelfLove Discussion ~ Be Kind to Writers Month ~ A Letter to Kristen Ashley (@KristenAshley68)

As part of the #ShelfLove Challenge, we have monthly discussion topics. September's topic is Be Kind to Writers.  

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I have to tell y'all that I wrote the following after I'd finished reading Breathe, the 4th book in the Colorado Mountain series. It was part of my review. And then I sat down to organize posts for this month and realized this portion of my review fit perfectly with this month's #ShelfLove discussion topic. Of course, there are so many, many authors that I'd love to give shout-outs to but Kristen Ashley is getting some extra love because...well, you'll see. :)

Dear Kristen, 

I started reading Breathe the week I was taking my daughter to college. I chose to read you for a reason. I needed the comfort one of your books provides. And you delivered again. Honestly, it's one of the reasons I've been making a point to read (and re-read) at least one of your books every month...it's comforting. Your stories are like a security blanket for me. And with the emotional upheaval I was experiencing right then - having my first baby leave the nest - Breathe was exactly what I needed. You have a "formula" - so I know my hero and heroine are going to get their HEA but not before experiencing some bumps. Or major obstacles. I know there's going to be an element of suspense. And I know I may not always immediately love the hero but he'll eventually win me over. I know there is always an undercurrent of female solidarity - strong female friendships - a foundation that our heroine's life is built on. You always give me a robust cast of characters that bring to life the town and the people I'm spending time with. And even though there's a "formula", I *know* you will give me an unforgettable story - something I'm not expecting. The story will be complex and compelling, rich and textured. It will make my pulse pound, have me gasping, swooning, crying, laughing. And all the while, I'll be captivated by the entire cast as well as thoroughly entertained. So it doesn't matter which of your stories I choose, because with each and every one I get something new and unique. Every. Time. And it's comforting to know what to expect and that my expectations will always be met. Always.

This is all to say that I found a home in your stories. I found girlfriends who will have my back, along with their guys. I fell in love with your writing - your story telling, your incredible characters, some of whom live in my state, in my town. The people that inhabit your books are all my friends and I can rest easy knowing I can count on them to always be there for me. And I wanted to let you know I'm grateful because I needed them to be a shoulder to lean on and they, you didn't let me down. I thank you.

Sincerely (& Rock on!)
Bookworm Brandee

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Brandee's Bookish Babble #23 ~ Long Books...Or Why I Keep Failing Certain Challenges

Welcome to Brandee's Bookish Babble. There are many, many similar posts to this one - but basically I wanted a place to discuss bookish and/or blogging stuff and I needed a title. :) So this is my new discussion feature.

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I've noticed a trend in my reading habits where challenges are concerned. Well, lately I've not read much at all really BUT I was doing well each month of 2016. Keeping on target and getting those challenge books read. But both last year and this year, I failed and continue to fail at my Reading Assignment Challenge and I think I've figured out why...

Outlander. Game of Thrones. <-- Yep, those two titles. And maybe a few others but those two in particular. They were on my Reading Assignment list last year and I put them on the list again this year because I'm determined to read them. But...they're soooo long! And I keep thinking "But I could read 2 or 3 shorter books in that same time." It's terrible! What I seem to end up doing is the reading shorter books on my list and then when I get to the point where I only have those looong books left, I fail. Why?

Why do I seem afraid to dive into long books? I used to read lengthy books all the time. Have I become a product of the digital age whereby I want instant gratification? Is my attention span that much shorter? Have I become commitment phobic whereby I don't want to invest that much time in one set of characters? Is it because they're in paperback format and I'd prefer to read a book of that length on an ereader?

Obviously, I don't have the answer yet. I wondered if y'all might have some advice. Are y'all averse to longer books? Do you find yourself putting off reading something that's 800+ pages? Why? Or why not? Help me, please. I'd really like to pass my Reading Assignment Challenge next year! :D

#ShelfLove Discussion ~ My Reading Rituals

As part of the #ShelfLove Challenge, we have monthly discussion topics. August's topic is My Reading Rituals.  

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When I first considered this topic, I thought, "Well, I don't really have a reading ritual." But as I pondered a little more, I realized I do have reading rituals - they're just dependent on the time of day and the season. ;)

No matter the time of year, if I'm reading in the morning, I'm drinking a cup of coffee. If it's warm out in the morning, meaning July or August, I'll read outside on the deck and watch the sun come up. During cooler times of the year, I'm either on the love seat in front of a fire OR in my library chair.

If I'm reading at any other time of the day, I'm either drinking coffee (hot or iced), raspberry lemonade, or water. The location doesn't change with the exception of outdoor reading, which might be done in an Adirondack chair under the shade of pine and fir trees rather than on my deck.

What about y'all? Do you have specific reading rituals? Particular things you eat or drink while reading? Particular places you sit with your books??

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Beyond the Books ~ Brandee Who?

Welcome to Beyond the Books. This post was inspired by Lexxie @Unconventional Bookviews' Up Close and (Un)conventional, who was inspired by Cuddlebuggery. It's meant to be a way for y'all to get to know me better on a personal level ~ Beyond the Books. ;)

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So, I didn't actually fall off the face of the Earth - or a plane of the blogosphere. It's just been one busy summer. I've taken two trips to Texas - visiting both sides of our family. I took an incredible trip to Grand Lake, Colorado, with Robyn. I've been working on staining our house (there are few months this can be done and it *must* be done). I've made so many batches of apple butter (being sold at our local farmers' market with all proceeds going to the high school instrumental music program) that I may never want to eat it again. Tomorrow, our family is taking a trip to the southeast - Sky's graduation gift - as we're following Sherman's March to the Sea (she's a Civil War history buff). When we return, I'll have 2 weeks until school starts for my younger kids and a trip to Portland to drop off Sky for her first year of college. In that respect, this summer has been emotionally difficult. My baby is leaving and I find myself in a mom-unique position of being excited beyond measure as she embarks on this new journey and yet, I'm also incredibly sad that she's leaving the nest. So I've been spending as much time with her as possible. All this activity has made for little time for reading and honestly, that makes me crabby! *ha*

At this point, I've realized maybe I should have taken the summer off from blogging but I'd already scheduled so much - thanks to mini blog-ahead - so I just let it go. However, I've spent very little time visiting any of your blogs. So it's here I must thank you all for continuing to visit me here. And apologize for my absence at your blogs. But also ask for your patience - I will return to visiting  and commenting and commenting back in a very few short weeks. Meanwhile, know that I appreciate and love y'all and am so grateful for your support. Also know that since I follow y'all via email, I *do* read your posts whether I make it by to comment or not.

As a show of my appreciation for your support, I'm hosting a raffle. This one is for a mystery box of books along with some handmade bookmarks from Braine (@TalkSupe) and myself. This particular raffle is for those of you who've visited and commented all summer. The winner will be chosen via a random number generator and I'll announce the winner when I return from my trip. 

I'll be doing another raffle at the end of August so if you want to be entered in that one, just stop by and comment over the next month. :D

Thanks again, y'all. You have no idea how much your continued support means to me. I'm so thankful to be a part of such a wonderful book/blogging community!

#ShelfLove Discussion ~ Why Do I Read What I Read?

As part of the #ShelfLove Challenge, we have monthly discussion topics. July's topic is Why I Read the Books I Read.  

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So, why do I read the books I read? Why do I gravitate towards a certain genre? How do I pick my next read?

Well, I don't think I gravitate towards any particular genre - although in the past my reading choices have seemed to go through phases where I read a specific genre for an extended period of time. For many years, I read nothing outside of literary fiction. Then Twilight happened and I opened myself to the wonder of other genres - particularly YA and Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance. I also went through an NA phase but as I was becoming ever more disenchanted with that genre, I decided to make a conscious effort to mix up my genres and it's really helped my reading pleasure. :D

As for why I gravitate toward any book - I think that the synopsis is what *must* grab me. I have to feel a draw to either the character or the story as a whole. What's funny about the importance of the synopsis is that it's only important initially. It plays a role in my decision to buy/borrow a book, but that's it. I rarely, if ever, read it again. I rather enjoy going into a book without expectation other than I *know* it initially called to me or I wouldn't own it. ;)

I'm a mood reader, so unless it's something I agreed to review, I pick my next read according to what I *feel* like reading. If I've read several books from a certain genre, I'm probably going to pick up something from another so I don't get burned out.

What about y'all? Why do you read the books you read? Do you gravitate towards a certain genre? Why? And how do you pick your next read??

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