Dishing It!!

I found a new blog today and in turn a new party!!  Who doesn't like parties?!?!?

Amanda at Serenity Now is hosting her Dishing It! - Summer Reading party.  You should go check out what everyone else is reading too.

My top 5 books.
1. Anything by Fannie Flagg.  I love the humor in her books.  They can be a little emotional, but they always end up being a good read.  She is one of those authors that I can re-read her books and still be totally captivated by what is going to happen next.

2.  Meg Cabot's Queen of Babble series.  I picked up the first book of the series mainly because I thought the cover art was cute.  I loved the book and had to go get the other two books immediately after reading.  This series is about a young woman who has had some bad relationship picks and over comes all to end up with Mr. Wright...all while designing dresses. 

3.  The Hannah Swensen series by Joanne Fluke.  This is a mystery series.  I love mysteries...I love trying to figure out who done it.  This series is right up my alley...the main character owns a cookie store and she is constantly creating new cookies...and the book includes recipes.  Even if you don't like mysteries these books are worth reading for the dessert recipes!!

4.  Recently I have gotten into the Vampire books.  I read the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris and couldn't put them down.  If you haven't heard of this series it is a mystery series that involves vampires, werewolves, witches, and many more supernatural beings.  I loved reading about the adventures that Sookie has in each book...and keeping track of her love interests.  I enjoyed these books, but I think they are a little racy for younger adults...lots of descriptive sex scenes.

5.  Another mystery series I love is the Flower Shop Mysteries by Kate Collins.  This is about a small town girl who drops out of law school and buys the local flower shop.  Abby, the main character, has a hard time keeping her nose out of other peoples business and so she ends up trying to solve a lot of mysteries.  Very fun, easy reads.

What is my favorite genre?
My favorite type of book to read is a mystery.  I have really gotten into the supernatural books lately, but I am trying to take a break from them. 

What is your favorite place to get books?
I try to get the books I read from my local library.  My husband says I would have read us out of house and home with the way I have been reading the last couple of years.  I own the books that I truly love so that I can read them again and again...but I try to buy used to save a little money.  I am a sucker for finding cute books at the check out stand in our grocery store.  I will find out the name and see if I can check it out at the library.  I do judge a book by its cover.  I have several books that I have gotten from garage sales.  I have to read books in a series in order...I just have too.  Sometimes this is hard b/c I will find a book that I want to read, but I don't want to start a story halfway through a series.  I feel like you don't know the characters as well b/c you are missing out on all that back history from previous books.

What are your favorite magazines?
I guess I would say Martha Stewart.  I haven't been so thrilled with them lately thought.

If I were stuck on a dessert island I would want to be stuck with Marco Salvare from the Flower Shop Mysteries.  He is a former ranger, complete hunk, and a very protective man. 

How do you make time to read?
Well, lately I have been reading text books and journal articles...for my two summer classes.  I try to read during nap time, but most of the time I read after the kiddos go to bed. I try to limit myself to 1 1/2 to 2 hrs of reading at night, but sometimes I just can't stop at the end of a chapter and I have to keep going.

What is next on your to read list?
I have a couple of books left in the Hannah Swensen series so I will definitely be reading those.  From there I will be catching up on a couple of new releases to some past series I have read.  After that I have some other series that friends have suggested...I guess I'll wait and see what I am in the mood for. 

Well, I have enjoyed sharing a little bit about me and my reading habits with you today.  I hope you will check out Amanda's blog and maybe join in the party!!

P.S.  Does anyone have a good book suggestion?  I would love to hear about some of your favorite books!!


Happy Reading!