I'm an avid reader. I typically read 5 or more books a week. Well I know that's a lot but I'm retired now and I don't have to worry is I get involved in a book and stay up late reading it and if I want to sleep late I can and if I'm enjoying a book why would I limit my pleasure?
When I retired from my high pressure job one of the retirement gifts I received was a nook. It took me a while to get used to not having that paper book in my hand but once I got the hang of it there were many advantages. I had instant access to all kinds of books and I could get many for free or for minimal fees. This gave me the opportunity to try new authors and various types of literature. I've found many authors that I love and others I can mark off my list. I soon discovered it was a good thing to keep a listing of books I've read or want to read and I even notate whether it is a nook book, Kindle book, library book or one from my library of paperbacks and hard backs.
I also discovered that I could change the font type and the size of the font on my device to make it easier to read. I find it much easier to read Arial or other block type. Anything without the extra curly ques work for me.
So I was rocking along reading mostly on the nook and then the darned thing started misbehaving. I mean it wouldn't hold a charge, then my entire library would have to be reloaded and I thought this is no fun. What a pain. Then my daughter said I should try her Kindle. It was one of those little Kindles with forward and backward buttons on the side edge and I was used to swiping to go to the next page So I trudged along not so happily. Then last year Amazon came out with a great deal on the Kindle Fire and it was less than half the price of the replacement for my nook so I said oh, try it. And I loved it. Then I've recently upgraded to the Kindle Fire HD and it's even better. More space, better battery life and I went with the 8 inch model when my Fire was only 7 inches.
Why to I tell you all of this? Well it's because I just love to read and ebooks have made it so easy. I still occasionally get the whim to hold a paper and ink volume and I find going to the library and checking out books is kind of nice too.
I linked up with several sites that offer free books and reduced books sometimes specials that run for only a few days. Bookbub.com, Baker Publishing, The eReader Cafe and NetGalley are a few of my favorites. You sign up, select your favorite genre(s) and you can get daily or weekly notices of deals available for your selection.
I've signed up for newsletters and follow several of my favorite authors. This is how I got started reviewing books for several authors. I find this to be rewarding. I get a sneak peak at upcoming books (ARC) prior to publishing date and then give my feedback and a review for the author.
I enjoy reading books in a series but I find it extremely frustrating to read one that leaves you on a cliff. And I never was a real history buff in school as I hated to have to remember all those dates. But I've found I love historical fiction. Usually a series is 3 - 5 books but one series that really hooked me was "The House of Winslow" by Gilbert Morris. He took a family from the Mayflower through WWII. It only took 40 books and I thought at some times, when will he finish this series then other times I could not wait for the next volume. Granted when I started I didn't know there were 40 books in the series but I did persevere and finished the series.
Some of my favorite authors are: Susan May Warren; Elizabeth Musser; Lisa Wingate; Coleen Coble; Liz Isaacson, Eleanor Meyers; Janice Thompson; Francine Rivers; Lauraine Snelling; Jen Turano; Karen White; Cynthia Wright; Tamera Alexander; Barbara Ankrum; Cathleen Armstrong; Judith Arnold; Leah Atwood; Terri Blackstock; Lawana Blackwell; Annette Blair; Jean Brashear; Linda Bridey and Claudy Conn.
So who do you like to read? Got a new author you would recommend?
