This is probably the hardest blog I have ever written. My mom died a couple of weeks ago which is a huge part as to why this blog is so late and why I didn’t read as much as I would have liked. She died way too young and I will miss her terribly but every time I pick up a book I will remember her. She is the one who taught me to love reading. I am the oldest of six kids and for most of my childhood we only had one TV and it was usually showing cartoons (or sports if my uncle was around). My only escape was reading which my mom was doing in the other room. I read whatever she got from the library. Her favorites became my favorites and as I got older my favorites became hers. She loved murder mysteries, Russian literature (I didn’t read those) and dystopian novels. I introduced her to James Patterson, Janet Evanovich, Harry Potter, the Hunger Games and thanks to my sister Maisie, Twilight.

When she moved to Arizona she would sit outside (winter and summer) to read and I loved sitting outside with her discussing the books we had read since the last time we saw each other. She wasn’t a girly girl but there were some books that had both of us acting like teenagers when we talked about them. Getting all giddy, laughing and just having a great time talking books.

Throughout my life I would escape into books. When I was stressed in college (both times) I would read. When a boy broke my heart I would read. When I couldn’t sleep I would read. My heart is broken again and so I will read. I will escape into fun, light books filled with life so I can escape the pain. If you are reading this blog you probably read for similar reasons and I hope you continue to find peace in books. My cousin’s daughter has started reading the Harry Potter series and I look forward to talking about them with her and sharing my mom’s legacy through books.

1. Cinder & Ella by Kelly Oram
2. All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
3. Weddings Can Be Murder by Christie Craig
4. Joy Inc. by Richard Sheridan
5. Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones

All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr – (Historical Fiction) This book was on the top 10 for so long it got my attention. A different twist to books on WWII. This one is from the point of views of children who lived through it, survived it and found each other. Easy to read that touches you.

The Naughty List by S. Goose and others – (Romance) Short romance stories. Not super sexy  but enough to fun.

Weddings Can Be Murder by Christie Craig – (Light Mystery) I found this book randomly on Kindle and fell in love. Fun, fast read, action packed mystery and laugh out loud like Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series.

Cinder & Ella by Kelly Oram – (Chic Lit) I couldn’t put this book down! Compelling story where you can’t help but cheer for the characters and groan when they don’t do what you want them to do. This would have been a great beach read 🙂

Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones – (Fiction) I listened to this book audibly. Great narrators and a very interesting story about two sisters who didn’t know each other. Every family has it’s secrets and this book shows how those secrets effect everyone and to be honest…shows you that…It could be worse!

Joy Inc. by Richard Sheridan – (Nonfiction) This is one of those books that was recommended to me three times in a row so of course I HAD to read it. While most of this didn’t apply to me since I don’t write code and I don’t manage coders I like the message. It’s about how to not only like your job but how to find joy in your job or even how to create joy in your work place. I don’t know about everyone but who couldn’t use more joy in not only their job but their life. Fast read so even though it’s a “business book” its fun.

Birds of a Feather by Jacqueline Winspear – (Historical Mystery) Second book in the Maisie Dobbs series. Took a while to get into it cause I was distracted with my mom.