Cool Summer Reads

How to Babysit a Grandpa by J. Reagan - a delightful children’s book.

Stay Sweet by S. Vivian - summer romance, friendship and ice cream!  What more does a girl need.  This is a sweet summer read.

The Selection by K.Cass - this is the first in a series and it’s one that you can’t put down.  A fairy tale dystopian romance.  It’s kind of like a royal version of the Bachelor in a dystopian society.  The Selection is available right now in ebook format for free.  You don't have to have a Kindle.  You can download the Kindle App on your phone or iPad.  Both of these are Young Adult novels. 

 The Paris Wife by P. McClain - adult novel about Ernest Hemingway and his first wife Hadley.  It is the story of betrayal and deception that led to the destruction of Hemingway’s first marriage.   

What I Am Reading Now:

The Perfect Couple by Elin Hildabrandt - a perfect beach read!  This is an Adult novel. 

10 Reasons You Should Get a Goodreads Account

All Readers Need A Goodreads Account

As y’all know, I am a high school Librarian and I have been an educator for over 25 years.  I have taught at almost all levels, but my true heart for teaching is with “the Littles”.  I taught Kindergarten for a number of years before becoming a librarian and now I am blessed to have the best of two worlds.  I love to read Young Adult fiction and I also love Children’s books and children.   I am a High School Librarian, but I have Story Time each week with the preschoolers that are here on my campus.  I love my time with the preschoolers, but I really enjoy having great conversations and making connections with my high school students, as well. 

Being a teacher and a librarian means that I read a lot of books and I need a good system for keeping up with books that I’ve read and want to read, which is why a Goodreads account is of such paramount importance to me and if you are a reader, it will become invaluable to you too. 

Goodreads is a website that allows you to create a sort of online bookshelf of books that you have read and/or want to read and you can pull up that information on any computer, your phone, or your tablet at anytime from anywhere in the world.

10 Reasons You Need a Goodreads Account:

●      You will never again start a book and think to yourself, “this seems familiar, have I already read this?”

●      You can put the books you’ve read into categories by genre, or any other way that you want to organize them and you can have as many different shelves as you’d like

●      You can write reviews or notes on the books that you’ve read

●      You can keep a running list of books that you want to read (I have a large list of “To Read” should be no danger of ever not being able to find something new to read)

●      You can read reviews from other members on the books that you are considering reading

●      There are groups and discussions that you can join

●      There are tons of lists and recommendations to help you decide what to read next

●      You can link your Amazon account and keep up with books that you have purchased

●      There are deals on ebooks on Amazon and there are giveaways…you can win free books!

●      And best of all…we could be friends!  Your friends can share recommendations with you based on your reading pleasures.

Goodreads offers even more than I have listed here, but these are my top reasons for using Goodreads and loving it!  Oh, and one more important bit of information…your Goodreads account is totally free.

Sign up for a Goodreads account today and read something good! 

Tonya

12 Books for the Twelve Days of Christmas

I so enjoy a heartwarming Christmas story and each year during the month of December I choose one or two or three to read.  I know this is December 6th already, but as usual I seem to be running late.  Surely, y’all have those weeks.    I have compiled a list of some of my favorites, old and new and some that are on my “To Read” list.  This list also contains some must reads, or read alouds for the kiddos.  Christmas books become part of my décor at Christmastime, as well as good reading.  

My first December read is A Merry Christmas & Other Stories by Louisa May Alcott, which is a collection of some her most treasured holiday stories. The writing is so beautiful!  This book was published in 2014, but the stories were written in the 1800’s and if you think that classics are not for you; you should definitely give this one a try.

The second on my list to read is Debbie Macomber’s new release, Merry and Bright, which of course is a Christmas romance and the last on my list for this year is a new Young Adult novel,  Kiss Me in New York by Catherine Rhyder, as you can tell by the title...another romance.  Romance is one of my favorite genres, especially at Christmas. I love the Hallmark Channel Christmas movies and so many of them are based on books that I have previously enjoyed.

Some other Christmas books that should be on your list to read:

• The Christmas Sweater by Glenn Beck

• The Snow Angel  by Glenn Beck

Both of these are stories about faith, family and forgiveness.  You will need tissues!

• Christmas at Harrington’s by Melody Carlson

A wonderfully sweet Christmas tale that will restore your faith in humanity and new beginnings.  

• The Mistletoe Inn by Richard Paul Evans

Another romance that has a nice element of humor.

• Christmas Jars by Jason F. Wright

This is one of my very favorite Christmas stories.  (Glass jars filled with money anonymously left for those who need it most) This is a powerful, Must READ, in my opinion!  

• What Light by Jay Asher

Jay Asher is a great author and this one will not disappoint Asher fans. What Light is a Young Adult novel about romance and forgiveness.  

These  MUST READS or Read Alouds for “ The Littles” will become part of your family holiday traditions.

• Santa’s Book of Names by David McPhail

• The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado

• The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg

We Wish You Merry Reading!

Tonya  

Frightening Fall Reads

Currently I'm reading, Murder on the Orient Express  by Agatha Christie (the movie is out and I always want to read the book before seeing the movie).

I have to preface this post by reminding everyone that I am a High School librarian.  Most of the books that I read are Young Adult.  I have to be able to recommend books to my students.  I do read Adult novels and non-fiction, but the majority of my reading lists consist of YA.  Mysteries, historical fiction, dystopians and an occasional cheesy romance are my favorites.  This Fall I have read some real page-turners that I highly recommend; here are 3 suggestions:

•  Tabula Rasa  by Kristen Lippert Martin

A YA mixed genre, dystopian, action-packed, science fiction, thriller, with a bit of romance thrown in for good measure.  This book is not a new release, but the cover caught my eye on the shelf and after reading the first few pages, I was hooked. 

• Blood and Salt by Kim Liggett

YA Supernatural Thriller, not exactly horror, but about as close to horror as I get.  The very first sentence in the book tells you that the main character sees a dead girl hanging above her kitchen table.  That is pretty horrific, if you ask me, but the first paragraph was enough to keep me reading. 

• Little Monsters by Kara Thomas

Released in 2017; this one is a disturbingly twisted, psychological, mystery that was really good.  It is YA, but it is my opinion that it is better suited for older young adults and adults.  

All of these books offer an element of fear and mystery that will be enjoyed by adults, as well as high school readers.  If you are looking for something to read, check out one of these thrillers!