How To Pick a Book as a Gift (Part 4): My Recommended

So here are my personal preferences if I am buying a book for a present. I know that some of these are listed in previous posts, but I hope that instead of boring you (and I'm sorry if I am), my persistance to try a book may help you expand the reading experience for yourself or someone else.

Kids:

• Ages 3-5: Is Your Mama a Llama? by Deborah Guarino
• Ages 5-8: The Adventures of Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey (I have even purchased this book for a gift already this year!)
• Ages 9-12: Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
• Teen: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Paranormal Romance:

• Dark Prince by Christine Feehan (this is the first book in the series called the Carpathians)
• Note: This series I recommend to any who will listen. This series is enormous and a thrill to read. I have also reread this series more times than I can count and still enjoy it as much as when I first turned its pages.

Romance:

• The Velvet Promise by Jude Devereaux 
• Note: This is a series that is also very large but highly entertaining and a classic romance series. This series starts in the Highlands with the Montgomery family and follows them and their cousins the Taggarts to America and then to the present. It is a full and delightful series. 

Mystery:

• Orchid Beach by Stuart Woods
• Note: I own each book in the series and usually have the new books as soon as they are on the shelf for sale. This author is detailed and a great read, even if you are reading the book for the 15th time!

Science-Fiction:

• Hammerfall by C.J. Cherryh
• Note: This book a colorful and entertaining sci-fi with much mystery and spunk.

Fantasy:

• Rhapsody by Elizabeth Haydon
• Note: This is one of my favorite books (the series is called the Symphony of Ages). I have worn out 3 separate copies of these books by simply reading them. I would recommend this novel and series to anyone who likes fantasy novels.

Non-Fiction:

• Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
• Note: This book is amazing and so informational. There is more culturally and emotionally to being a Geisha and this book is very enlightening and emotionally tuned.

Fiction:

• The Labryinth by Kate Mosse

Classic:

• The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells

Historical Fiction:

• The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel
• Note: There was an old movie made of this, if you watched it, trust me....the book is way better, and is part of a series, so the story continues, and develops so beautifully and delightfully that you become immersed in the books.

I hope you have been able to find the perfect gift for whomever you like. I hope that if you aren't buying a gift for someone but just want a recommended read, that you try those listed above. If they don't seem like a book you would enjoy, be sure to check out the previous posts for Amazon.com's and Barnes and Nobles recommended, plus some of my own buy genre!

How To Pick a Book as a Gift (Part 3): Amazon's Recommended

So here are Amazon.com's "Recommended" in each genre, plus some of my notes on them. Enjoy!

Kids:

• Age 3-5: Leonardo, The Terrible Monster by Mo Willems
• Age 5-8: The Magic Treehouse series by Mary Pope Osbourne
• Age 9-12: Diary of a Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book by Jeff Kinney
• Teen: Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen

Paranormal Romance:

• A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole
• Note: I especially enjoy this author. I own most of her books (including this one) myself. She is very creative and fun and I highly recommend reading her novels if you haven't. 

Romance:

• Mr. Maybe by Jane Green

Mystery:

• Lethal by Sandra Brown

Science-Fiction:

• The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell
• Note: Reading the synopsis on Amazon, this looks like a great read. I even put it on my "Xmas List."

Fantasy:

• The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers

Non-Fiction:

• Still Alice by Lisa Genova

Fiction:

• While I Was Gone by Sue Miller

Classics:

• Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
• Note: My grandmother had me read this book, and it flared my love for romances and intrigue in a book. So if somehow you have managed to miss reading this book, make sure that you find the time to read it. 

Historical Fiction:

• 30 Pieces of Silver by Carolyn McCray

My Most Recommended up Next! Thanks again for your patience between posts!

How To Pick a Book as a Gift (Part 2): Barnes and Noble's Recommended

I apologize for the delay in posting, and the once two-part, now four-part blogs. There is way too much information to try and put into one blog: you would be asleep long before the end. So, I am going to spread these out across this and the next 2 blogs, according to source. This blog will be about Barnes and Noble's Top Books in each Genre, the next (Part 3), will be Amazon.com's, and the third will be my own!

Kids:

• Ages 3-5: No Two Alike by Keith Baker
• Ages 5-8: Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever by Jeff Kinney
• Ages 9-12: The Lost Hero series by Rick Riordan
• Teen: The Future of Us by Jay Ashner and Carolyn Mackler

Paranormal Romance:

• The Guardian by Sherrilyn Kenyon (this is part of a series called the Dark-Hunters/Dream-Hunters/Were-Hunters)
• Note: This author is renowned for her creativity, detail, and characters, and I myself enjoy many of her books,including this series.

Romance:

• The Next Always by Nora Roberts

Mystery:

• V is for Vengence by Sue Grafton (this is part of a series called the Kinsey Millhone Alphabet Series)
• Note: I also own quite a few books from this author, and enjoy her unique talents in writing.

Science-Fiction:

• Micro by Michael Chrichton

Fantasy:

• Inheritance by Christopher Paolini (this is part of the 'Eragon' series, called the Inheritance Cycle)
• Note: I love this series. It is one of my favorites to read on my own or with my son.

Non-Fiction:

• Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard

Fiction:

• The Litigators by John Grisham

Classics:

• Hans Christian Anderson: The Complete Fairy Tales

Historical Fiction:

• 11/22/63 by Stephen King

How To Pick a Book as a Gift (Part 1):

With the Holidays looming in, we are set up for "Secret Santa," company parties, and "drawing names" with our friends, family members, and co-workers. But what do you get the person who only wants books if you just don't want to get a gift card? I thought about how I pick out a book for one of my friends or siblings, and came up with an excellent list:

1. Do you see the person reading? Ask them to talk about the book or its author. Find out what genre it is and if it is a series. Do they recommend the author/book to you? Then try to find a book that is by that author, either a singular novel or a later book in the series they are currently reading.

2. B.S. it. Yep, tell them you are buying a book for your friend or family member and ask them if there is a book they would recommend or that they know is a good book? Ask them if there is a particular one they think is amazing that may be coming out soon.

3. If those 3 ideas don't work, then try to go to their house to see their bookshelf (of course, going into a house may not work for a coworker) for recommendations, or ask them to loan you a book that they enjoyed reading. Using the title/author that they provide, you can find out what genre they make be currently reading or enjoy. Then find a book store and their most recommended novel in that genre (make sure it is not a series unless you know the specific number that the person wants, or it is the first book). This may not be the exact book that the person is looking for, but most people will read and enjoy a book (even if its an author that they have never heard of) that is within the genre that they provide you with.

4. Barring these steps, if you still cannot find a book that a person wants, just try your local bookstore and find a book seller. They can help, and refer you to all different kinds of novels. Sometimes you may not want to work this hard with the other 3 ideas (such as a co worker that you hardly know), so a good book may be recommended by the book seller that is fun/relaxing and is appropriate for the workplace, such as a book of business jokes.

With these rules in mind, I am creating a "Recommended Reads of 2011" in all major genres. I will include the recommendations from 2 major booksellers, and then my own personal recommendation in each genre. As this list will take time to complete (and would make this post MILES longer), I will post the list tomorrow.

Book Club and Read-of-the Month!

I enjoy discussing a book I've read with my family and friends, and sometimes even complete strangers! I truly enjoy discussing the ins and outs and interesting plots lines, characters, etc. So, I started a book club on Facebook. I will NOT designate a genre, as I hope to expand some genre horizons with the club. If you want to join the forums and chats, please check out the "Read-of-the-Month" below, and click the link on the left to join us on Facebook. Otherwise, if you have a request/recommendation, feel free to post it there! Thanks!

Read-of-the-Month (Dec. 2011):

          The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Note: Don't like the genre or book suggested? Don't worry! Make a recommendation and we might read it for the next month! I will not put 2 books of the same genre/series for back-to-back months, to be sure that we are not always (or often) reading the same genre.

Great Book for Dog Training!

I have a 1 1/2 year old healthy, happy weimaraner. She is well trained and obedient. If you don't know much about this breed of dog, there are a few things to remember...they are very energetic and intelligent dogs. My weimaraner needs complex and new tricks to do constantly, and if weimaraners become bored, things get destroyed. So I do daily training with her, and I found 2 books that have saved our lives, because they have easy to follow training steps and complex tricks to do, and they take up lots of time and training and help with a dog that needs daily mental stimulation like weimaraners, terriers, etc. These are the best books I have found to help with training:

1. 51 Puppy Tricks by Kyra Sundance

• This is for puppies 0-2 years. There are all kinds of cool tricks to do in here, from just starting clicker training to complex tricks like putting away their own toys! 

2. 101 Dog Tricks by Kyra Sundance

• This one says for dogs 2 and older, but some of the tricks are simple enough to do with puppies. This has additional tricks to teach your dog if you find that you cannot teach your dog some of the "puppy" tricks (some require steps that I haven't started training with my dog yet), this is a good alternative until you do/can.

Note:  You do not need to worry if you did not train your dog with clicker training, these tricks do not necessarily need that specific type of training to complete. Use what works best as motivation with your pup.

Plot Lines to Blow You Away!

Do you enjoy the twisting and turning plot lines that never end or absolutely shock you? I do! I love them! So here are a few of my favorite reads when I want a book that makes my brain keep processing information even after the book is read!

1. Christine Feehan's GhostWalkers series (Paranormal Romance).

• This series takes so many twists and turns that you cannot even follow all the paths (and I've reread this series many times and still find myself lost). Warning though: do NOT  read this series out of order, or you cannot make sense of things and will spoil the rest of the series! But if you read it in order, it will sure take you for many, many turns and twists.

2. Trudi Canavan's Age of the Five trilogy (Fantasy).

• Wow, what a shocker at the end. The characters provide all the twists and turns, and the author makes it obvious that she wants you to understand why the character made their decision, and that her story changes as often as people do. This is a series you cannot miss!

3. Stan Nichols The Dreamtime trilogy (Fantasy).

• This series you cannot skip. The ending is not quite what you expect, and you cannot know the ending until it hits. This is also a "page-turner" series, one that is very hard to put down once you have picked it up. 

4. Tad Williams' Otherworld series (Sci-Fi).

• This series spans time, space, and electronics. This series is so complicated and technical that you can't help but get lost. The author does an amazing job of bringing all of his characters and plots together into an unforseen twist!

5. Patricia McKillip's The Riddlemaster trilogy/book (Fantasy).

• What a creative and emotional novel with all the twists you would expect from a real riddle. I have this book in one single bound volume, but I believe it was originally released in individual books. This series is so colorfully written and you have to use your brain so much in this book that you can't help but think about it for weeks after!

Note: I also have other books/series that I would have placed in this post, but they have already been mentioned (and I don't want to repeat myself), so check out the previous posts if you want more!

Great Paranormal Romance Anthologies: Short but Sweet!

Most short stories combined into one book (anthology) lead to other series, but I found a few that can stand on their own too. I like short and to the point stories with similar or totally different themes. I like them for a busy day when I won't have the time or chance to really "get into" a larger book, or on vacations, when you're traveling or sitting on the beach or need a half hour or so "away" from the busy holiday times. Here are my favorites:

1. Dragon Lovers (Jo Beverly, Mary Jo Putney, Karen Harbaugh, and Barbara Samuel)

• Ah, who doesn't love dragons, right? These are great and spectacularly written short stories about dragons/shape-shifters. These stories are sweet and good when you want a romantic but not too steamy read that is short and not too long, but still provides the descriptions and story/plot lines of merit and imagination. This book does not lead into any other series.

2. Dark Dreamers (Christine Feehan and Marjorie M. Liu)

• These stories lead into other series, but they also stand on their own. I usually buy an anthology for one specific author, but read it all and if I like the author (like I did Liu) then I find out more. They are great stories, and give you a "sneak peek" into what the rest of the series is like. These are a must read if you like this genre!

3. Hot Blooded (Christine Feehan, Maggie Shayne, Emma Holly, and Angela Knight)

• I found out about 2 of my other favorite series by reading this book! These are just good stories and also lead into other series, but they stand alone too. The plot lines are what you would expect from these astounding authors, and so you know that this book is one you can't miss. If you haven't read any thing buy these authors....start with this book!

3 Long But Fun Series to Read with Your Kids!

I love reading to my son, but I want to read him a book that's fun for me too! And I like long, detailed stories, even if they span multiple books. So here are our favorite fun books:

1. DragonKeeper Chronicles by Donita K. Paul

• One of the most delightful and charming series that I have ever read (I often reread this series without reading it to my son). This series is just a wholesome, entertaining read with a good versus evil plot, and characters that you grow with. The series starts with a young woman, so it is easy for a child to connect with the characters. This series also has good lessons and values to teach a child.

2. Inheritance Cycle Series by Christopher Paolini

• This is a great series, and is very complicated and detailed. It is just a fun read with lots of dark and light spots. If you have a child younger than 12, they may have a hard time trying to read this series on their own, but if you want to enjoy reading a book to your child just as much as they do listening to it, then this is a fantastic choice! Details and emotions are rampant in these books and the plot thickens and twists with each novel.

3. My Teacher Is An Alien series by Bruce Coville

• I know this is an old series (I read it in elementary school), but that's what made me think it my be a good read, and my son really enjoyed it! He even tries to read ahead of me sometimes, and laughs when we read it. I loved this series because who hasn't had a teacher they wish they could prove was an alien, right? This series is nothing but pure fun, but I wouldn't recommend it for a "bedtime" story!

*Note: If your child is older than 12, these are good series for them to read on their own.

Great Deal on Fantasy Romances!

Here's on awesome deal on the Druids of Destiny series by Shanna Murchison! You'll get the first 3 ebooks for a good price! These are awesome novels. Click here to go to the website for more info!

5 Must Read Paranormal Romance Series!

1. Jessica Andersen's The Final Prophecy series.

• Wow, talk about a cool idea for a series! Its a book with a large Mayan/Aztec reference! The characters are vivid and have very unique personalities. This is a fun read, especially if you are a Mayan/Aztec/Egyptian enthusiast!

2. Jacquelyn Frank's Nightwalker series.

• Fun ironies in this series, but it is a great read. Plus, this series leads into others that the author has written so you don't lose all the characters when you are done reading. The characters are fun and a mix of paranormal "species." Funny Biblical references and plot turns make this an interesting read.

3. Anna Windsor's Dark Crescent Sisterhood trilogy.

• This series is full of character development and fun plot twists. You often don't know if the heroines are going to prevail or get their butts kicked! These books have a unique storyline and not much background that you  have to muddle through when the author created this world-inside-a-world.

4. Larissa Ione's Demonica series.

• This series is a very unique and mind-blowing view on "demons," making the characters easy to connect with and compare with humanity. The story lines and character interaction in the complex and artistic world the author shows provides a good, stimulating read that you don't have to fumble over and can simply enjoy.

5. Christine Feehan's Drake Sisters series.

• Some of the most amazing seven novels I've ever read. The author deserves high praise for the vast yet similar character personalities provided to each sister and their chosen men. Good storyline and explanation for their "powers" and what makes each sister unique. Plus, this leads into another series that is just as fun and enjoyable to read!

My Most Favorite "King Arthur" Books

I am not a big fan of "King Arthur" fiction or fantasy books, but I have had a few that have crossed my path that are great reads, so I thought I'd share them:

1. Marion Zimmer Bradley's The Mists of Avalon book/series.

• One of the most amazing novels I have read, period! As far as I understand this is 3 books within a book, so the individual novels of this series may also be listed on their own. One of my family members lent me this book, and I became so centered on it that I only took a few days to read the book. It is an enormous book (if it is the 3-in-1), so I was amazed at how little sleep I had those few days. The characters are so complex and emotionally charged, and the plot so thick and twisted that you get lost within the pages. You never know if you will love or hate each character until the very end, as the characters change with time, just as people do. This is a book/series that you cannot miss, even if you don't particularly like "King Arthur" novels.

2. Guy Gavriel Kay's The Fionavar Tapestry series.

• This author has a very unique way of writing, and takes a little getting used to. One of the things I like most about the author is he leaves most of the details of the characters' themselves out and describes the people and places with more detail, leaving you to make your own decisions about the characters, good or bad, shallow or complex, etc. It feels as if the author wants you to come to your own conclusions of the characters' personality, flaws, and strengths based on their actions and their outlook on situations without delving into a character's emotions unless it is to see a character's point of view or a different outlook on a situation. There are many "main" characters, and the author does a great job of portraying each one and their place in the story. The "King Arthur" reference in this series is not a profound one, and doesn't play a large part in the story. Sorry, giving away any more than that about Arthur is a spoiler. Definitely a must read!

My Top 5 Mystery Authors

I've gotta love the mystery novel...especially a series, as the characters are able to be expanded upon over and over again. Here are my top 5 mystery authors!

1. Stuart Woods' Stone Barrington novels.

• This character is so complex and easy to connect with! The author paints a vivid picture with an ending that always leaves me spinning. I love any series by this author, as he is one of my most favorites to read, and the detail is amazing!

2. Charlaine Harris' Lily Bard series.

• This author is always a fun and easy read! I love reading this series, and recommend it to all  my friends too! I think the author is a genius with this series, even more than all her others. Many people pass it up for the other series, but this one is my favorite, I especially like the main character, and can associate with her on many levels.

3. Dean Koontz' Odd Thomas series

• This borders somewhat into a fantasy/sci-fi to the most die-hard mystery readers, but I loved it. When I read the first book, I cried at the end. I am a really emotional person, and I love that about an author--when they can evoke that much emotion when they write. Plus, the author has a very unique and distinct way of portraying the character and the problems he's had. Love this series!

4. Dan Brown's Digital Fortress/Angels&Demons/The DaVinci Code.

• Anything by this author is a must read. They are all thrilling and all the characters were easy to connect with. Not to mention all of the detail the author puts into his scenes and characters actions/thoughts. I am a die-hard fan of this author!

5. Steig Larson's The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.

• Ok, I have only read the one book that he has written so far (just finished reading it a few days ago), but the other comes highly recommended. That being said...Wow! Amazing! This author knows how to paint a scene well! What an interesting take on the characters. The author is easy to follow and there is so much detail! I couldn't put it down!

A Couple of Series That Are The Most Fun To Read!!

I like funny books. Anything that makes me laugh is up for grabs! If you like funny books, here are my most favorite 'laughs:'

1. Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum novels.

• These books are loads of laughs. I have a crazy family that is so like the Stephanie's family that I can't help but associate with these novels. Definitely has women humor. Anything by this author is just fun to read! 

2. Gena Showalter's Tales of an ExtraOrdinary Girl.

• Great story line, and this author is an amazing writer! You will laugh a lot and will thoroughly enjoy the characters and the situations they get into!

Great Inspirational Books When You're Having a Bad Day!

I had a pretty bad day yesterday. :( But I hate staying mad and upset, so I usually try to make myself feel better by reading something more...touching and uplifting. So, this is my favorite inspirational site that sells "feel-better" books. You can check them out by selecting the link below. They seem to help me from staying too mad or frustrated on my bad days.
Go Here!

Great Books to Read with Your Kids!

I love reading with my son, but we had lots of problems finding a book we could both enjoy. So, I decided that I was going to find books a little above his reading level, so he could find a love for them before he had to read these books in school, and it expands their vocabulary and interest in harder books. So these are our favorite books to read together:

1. A Wrinkle in Time (series is called the Time Quintet)

• Its a classic, and quite hard for the child to read on their own, due to the jargon from previous years that kids may not understand, but as the main characters are kids, its easy to bond with the characters.

2. The Inkheart trilogy.

• I watched the movie and wondered if the books were as good as the movie, so I bought the first book to see if my son liked it. It is very hard reading by themselves, and so a parent or an older child should read this with anyone under 8. But very detailed and easy to understand characters.

3. Percy Jackson and The Olympians.

• A fun book to read together but also very difficult  for a child to read by themselves, as it is set for a young teen age group, but the lessons taught in the novels are great to share with your kid!

4. How to Train Your Dragon series.

• If you want to "change-up" your reading so it isn't always a lesson (since that can get tiring), this is a great and very fun series to read. They aren't hard for a kid to remember the details, so you can take and leave these books to read later as you want. I use them for the days that my son won't listen and can't concentrate on anything complicated.

5. The Spiderwick Chronicles.

• These are fun and not too complicated novels. They are colorfully written to keep a kid's attention span and since the characters are kids, the characters are easy to associate with.

10 Favorite Paranormal Romance Series

**Sorry, this is a long list, but I couldn't list these as a "5 Faves" because many of them tied in my list of "5," and so I knew it would have to be a longer post**

1. Christine Feehan's Carpathian series.

• A "vampire" novel (sort of). I like this series because it is a long one, with lots of twists and turns in the plot. You are constantly getting 'updates' on your favorite characters, so you don't have to leave characters behind from book to book. 

2. Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark-Hunter/Dream Walker series.

• Lots of different paranormal characters (werewolves, vampires, etc), and is a long series. Also a series where you get 'updates' on characters, or they show up in secondary roles in many of the books. There is a lot of variety in this series. Don't miss out on the anthologies or short stories, as they end up playing a part for a later novel. 

3. Gena Showalter's Lords of the Underworld series.

• Amazing character personalities. Amazing author personality! I laugh so much through these books. The books are just FUN to read! Each book is vastly different from the previous novel, and opens more and more questions and plot turns. Also a series that you don't have to give up on a character because they are all intertwined. 

4. Christine Feehan's Ghostwalkers series.

• Not your typical paranormal romance (the characters are part of experiments that change them). An unforgettable plot for each novel, but the plot twists and turns so much that you can never get bored with this series, even if you're rereading it!

5. Marjorie M. Liu's Dirk and Steele series.

• Interesting characters! The characters have such a variety of personalities you fall in love with the characters, plus you continue to have other characters pop up in later novels, so you don't have to give up any of your characters. Amazing imagination with the different paranormal species in this series. Don't miss out on the anthologies for this series either!

6. Kresley Cole's Immortals After Dark series. 

• The imagination the author put into these books is amazing. Such colorful and interesting characters, plus the author makes you laugh often through the novels. I often find myself thinking that I would've said the exact same thing in the character's place. Also a longer series, and you don't have to give up your characters.

7. Lynn Viehl's Darkyn series. 

• The author's style of writing makes these an interesting and fast read. The characters are fun and realistic, and so are the problems they face. The novels offer a very unique explanation for the character's "vampirism." Plus, the author creates a secondary series that plays off of the Darkyn, called the Kyndred (also a stellar read).

8. Christine Warren's The Others series.

• Very unique series with believable and easy to relate to characters. Easy reads, not so easy to find tho, as many of her stories are only available on her website as eBooks (or if you can find an old anthology the story was originally published), but some of the eBooks are getting rewritten into full-length novels and published, and the novels/short stores are worth the effort to find. 

9. Lynsay Sands Argeneau novels. 

• I've always liked Atlantis and kind of always thought that they were an advanced civilization or some such, and this series plays off of that, so its a nice read. Also a great take on feeding, and each character is unique and a colorful and fun individual. The characters are so easy to relate to, you almost wish some of them were real people. :)

10. Caris Roane's Guardians of Ascension series.

• This is a "newer" series than the others I have listed above, but is an amazing series so far. I have great hopes for this series, and hope it continues for a long time. The idea of ascension that the author gives is unique but very believable. Its an easy read, tho a good amount of pages. Don't be afraid tho! Everything happens so fast in the book that you can't get bored. I could barely manage to put the books down once I started reading them!

***Note***

Many of the series listed above have their novels listed in reading order on their websites (or a booksellers). If you want a list of them for yourself, or cannot find the reading order (some only list chronological order), email me, and I will post the list for you! 

Book Club for Dog Owners!

If you have a dog, you need to get these books! They are amazing. My dog has allergies and is a klutz, so I was just looking for a first aid book, but I found this one with a whole bunch of other cool books! Plus its a book club, so I get more books! Sweet!! Here's the site: Go Here!

5 Favorite Fantasy Series

1. The Symphony of Ages by Elizabeth Haydon

• If you like music and emotional plot lines, this is a must-read series. One of my all time favorite series ever. The characters are easy to connect with. Even though I read this book every year, I am still surprised how quickly I finish the books.

2. The Wayfarer's Redemption by Sara Douglass

• This series has complex characters and twisting plot lines. You love and hate the characters equally and are constantly changing your opinion on the characters throughout a novel. Its a VERY complex series that has so many twists and turns that it feels like one big puzzle every time I read it. Amazing!

3. The Sun Sword by Michelle West

• This series is a surprise every time you read or reread the series. I am still finding parts I missed or overlooked the last time I read them. They are the most detailed novels that I have ever read. You feel like you are right there with the characters. The characters are so detailed that you can't help but feel strongly towards them. 

4. The Bridge of D'Arnath by Carol Berg

• This series will tug on your heart strings. The characters are so vivid that you get emotionally tangled. Dreams,  loves, hate, every emotion is portrayed in all its facets. A roller coaster of a series. I read it yearly.

5. The Sundered Series by Michelle Sagara West

• I stumbled upon this series by accident, and I am sooo glad I did. This is a classic good versus evil series with an unexpected twist. Love conquers and all that, but in ways I had never conceived of until I read this book. You can't help but be touched and love the characters for both their strengths and their weaknesses. The author is the same as The Sun Sword (see #3), but the writing styles are completely different.

5 Books To Teach Your Boy to LOVE Reading!

As an avid reader, when my son didn't love books the way I did, I started to worry. I wondered what book or books I could get him to read that would ignite a love of reading. I asked my friends, and tried them for my son. Now, I cannot get him away from books. These were the delightful books and the reason my son said he LOVED them:

1. The Adventures of Captain Underpants (entire series, they're all GREAT).
By Dav Pilkey

• This series is about two boys who play practical jokes and write comics about Captain Underpants. I can still hear my son laughing when he reads them. Try these novels first! They were the first I gave my son, and he still reads them weekly.

2. Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot (entire series).
By Dav Pilkey

• This is a series about a young mouse and his robot. The titles are cute and a play on words. If your son likes space and silly monsters, these books are a must!

3. Stink Series
By Megan McDonald

• A series that is easy to read, and very interesting. It is creatively illustrated, so it makes an intereting read.

4. Sir Fartsalot Hunts the Booger
By Kevin Bolger

• This book is just hilarious. The first time we tried reading it together, I had to make my son read it to me, cause I was laughing too hard. Lots of pictures, and almost all the characters have really silly names.

5. Goosebumps Horrorland/Goosebumps
By R.L. Stine

• I loved reading these books as a kid, so I thought I'd try them with mine, but he was still too young to get into the older Goosebumps. So when I was at a bookstore around Halloween, they had a display of the Goosebumps Horrorland. I bought one and had to go back for others pretty quickly. As far as I can tell, these books are rewritten for younger readers, so they're not as "scary" for younger kids. I read the older Goosebumps with my son until he was old enough to read them on his own.

Thanks for checking my blog out! I'm just starting out, but I'll soon be rolling out some recommendations! Let me know if you would like any specific requests!