Hello my name is Katie and I'm a bookaholic

I think I have a problem. Well... no I don't think it's a problem, but it probably is a problem. Let me explain.

So yeah, you know I love books (understatement)  I've been sick for about the last week or so and just didn't want to get out of bed let alone read (I know can you believe it?!?)   Anyway... I've done some binge reading and finished 2 novels yesterday and logged into my library account to see what I could see. I searched for a book that I saw on my favourite cozy mysteries website and requested that.

Today I read up on some new books on Facebook. I'm in this fantastic group called THE Book Club (if you want an invite let me know! you won't be disappointed) So I logged into my library account and searched for some of the titles, and went through the list of the latest additions to my local library.

So here's the problem. When I clicked over to my account page I did a double take. I've got 13 books on loan currently (granted yes some have to be returned because I did finish them so.. ) but I've also got another 8 on request. Not to mention the shelves of books that I have here at home that I've yet to read.. or the freebies that I've downloaded to my e-reader.

And my nephew just walked into my room and handed me a book. Turns out he was just at the library and they told him that there was a book in for me and picked it up (love that kid! Thanks!!)

Needless to say, my plans for this weekend are.. read... read... and read some more! Update blog, update book reviews and read :)

Hello, my name is Katie, and I am a bookaholic

I've done it..

I've added another author to my "Favourite Authors List"

Darien Gee's novel "Friendship Bread" caught my attention on one of those shelves that I wrote about at our local library. This one I think was on the one "Staff Picks" either that or "Great Summer Reads"  I'd been reading a lot of cozy mysteries and I was looking for something different. The first thing that caught my eye was the cover. Yeah, I know "never judge a book by it's cover" and it's sad to say but I do. It's the first thing that I see, I can't help it sometimes. So, I grabbed the book and put it in my stack of books to check out.

I was looking through my ever growing stack of books to read and I realized that the book was due back soon. So, I started reading it. And finished it. In 2 days. Okay it would have been 1 day but I started reading late in the evening and I had to sleep..

Friendship Bread is I guess what you would call 'chick lit'. Call it whatever you want, but the story drew me in, like an old friend.  The story follows several women, all dealing with some kind of loss in their lives. One of the women comes home to find a plate of Amish Friendship Bread on her doorstep, along with directions and a bag of starter. Her daughter, Gracie, wanted her daddy to try some, so they started caring for and 'feeding' the starter and 10 days later had baked their own bread and had starter to give away. Needless to say, the starter takes on a life of it's own, and takes over the small town of Avalon.  The women end up meeting at Madeline's Tea Salon and they slowly become friends.

The story is based around the losses each of the women faced, and the depression that each of them are dealing with.  It is about dealing with loss, finding new friendships, coming to grips with what life has dealt them and in a way becoming alive again. It is like they finally awaken from their deep sleep and their fears and they slowly and tentatively rejoin the community with the help of their new friendships.

If you enjoy authors like Debbie Macomber, you will definitely enjoy Darien Gee's novels.  I am already a third of the way through the second book in the series titled "The Avalon Ladies Scrapbooking Society"  I am sure I will finish it by tomorrow :)

Check out Darien Gee's facebook page, Friendship Bread Kitchen HERE and her website Friendship Bread Kitchen  HERE.  They are both amazing places to find tips and tricks about making Amish Friendship Bread along with diverse recipes for using the starter.  I've already signed up for the mailing list and can't wait to try to make some of my own bread! (Don't worry friends, I won't send you any starter unless you want it... I've found out you can freeze it too to use later!)

Vacation Reading

So, I was on vacation in the White Mountains of New Hampshire this past week. We stayed at 2 different lodges there (a mixup with our reservation but it worked out in the end!) and I had planned on doing lots of relaxing and reading while we were there.

Well, there was sooo much to do I didn't get much reading done though I did finish the book I was reading by Kylie Logan called "Hot Button"  Another great read by Kylie Logan and I can't wait to read another of her cozy mysteries. I am going to request more at the library right now!

The Whirlwind Continues

So I seem to be on a huge reading kick, which really is wonderful since I am more than 20 books behind on my goal to read 100 books this year. Yesterday we went for a nice long drive and I brought along the latest book to capture my attention called "Button Holed"
I know the saying is "Don't judge a book by it's cover" but I actually do. I can usually tell by the title of the book along with the cover design if it's a book that I am going to enjoy or not. Don't get me wrong, I will still read the descriptions of the books and read the first page or so to see if it grabs me, but a clever title and an interesting cover design will get me every time. Especially with a cozy mystery. They are the cutest!
ANYWAY... the story is about Jo, an expert button collector and the murder that happens in her shop. The beginning pages captured me right away and I was hooked. As it turns out, I got an email from my library that I had a book requested and it was there waiting for me and it was one of the next books in the series. So on the drive (I was the passenger NOT the driver don't worry!) I finished "Button Holed" and even started the other book that I had with me.

I seriously need to update my goodreads page with reviews and such, and I will be creating a new shelf for 'what I've got on loan from the library' to keep track. I think I currently have 14 books out!

Happy reading!

Quick Update

So, I flew right through "A Deal To Die For" and was really surprised when my Mom brought me a gift... which was Sophie Kinsella's book called "Wedding Night" I've been wanting to read it, and have read some bad reviews on how the characters were, the story line etc... but I am someone who likes to make their own mind up on a book. I LOVED it! It kept me laughing and I think I finished the book actually in about 2 days, maybe 4 at the most (my time runs together some days when I am reading hahaha)

I need to do a proper review of the book and I was intending on doing it today. I went to the library to return a couple of books that I just wasn't interested in and ended up getting... yeah get this one... another 12 books! Plus they had a hold there for me when I got up to the check out desk! So I'll be reading tons and tons :)

I'm so happy that they had my reserved copy of Emily Giffen's brand new book The One & Only and I'm going to be jumping into it as soon as I finish writing this post! Giffen is one of my favourite writers. I love her characters, the stories are really fun to read and keep my interest.  I've read that a lot of people have been unhappy with this book but that is not going to keep me from reading.. though it does have to do with football, which I don't understand at all. Hopefully it will be just as fun as her other novels.  

Here's to a fun night sitting on the patio and reading!

Currently Reading: A Deal To Die For

And I am back on track now!
My library card is renewed and I went on a borrowing spree from the library. My current book on the go is titled "A Deal To Die For" by Josie Belle, the 2nd in her series of "The Good Buy Girls"

I completely enjoyed her first in the series called "50% Off Murder" and I am excited to start the next book. Her characters are so likable and like me, love to get a good bargain and clip coupons. They are somewhat of kindred spirits for me, though my shopping sprees are for less 'fancy' clothing items.

If you enjoy cozy mysteries then this is definitely an author that you should give a try. Her books aren't boring and the story moves along well. There is a good mix of comedy along the way and I found myself wondering what was going to happen to these ladies next.

I am 28 books behind on my reading goal for this year, so I hope that my short attention span will let me catch up a bit each month. I've borrowed about a dozen books or so from the library so... here's hoping I don't have to renew! ;)

Until the next update, happy reading!