What I've Been Up To and What I've Been Reading

Hey guys! It’s been a while and I wanted to share what I have been up to and what I’ve been reading!

Since I was here last, so much has happened! I have been very busy and overwhelmed that I had to put this on hold for a bit. So I’m sorry if this is inconsistent, but I have to take care of myself and my family first. This is just for fun. But oh how much fun it is!!

Why I’ve Been Gone…

My grandfather passed away in December, just a few days before Christmas. His loss has really affected me and for a long time, I just couldn’t bring myself to get on here and write. I didn’t even know what to write! I have had the worst writer’s block I think I have ever experienced.

But here I am again! I’m going to try and take this slow and start back easy! Just bear with me. I can’t promise amazingness just yet!

What I’ve Been Up To

A few things have happened while I was away.

First

I joined Bookstagram so come over to Instagram and join me! Over there I have been sharing the books I’m reading and some of my favorite book quotes. I am making some amazing bookish friends over there and would love for you to join me too! My handle is @live_love_read87. Feel free to come over and say hi!

Second

I haven’t posted anything yet, but I am working on a Snapchat profile as well, as another space to share the books I am loving and make new book friends. I’m also thinking about making a BookTok as well but I am undecided. (Let me know if you think I should!)

Thirdly

After nearly 11 years at my current job, I applied for a new job. I love what I do and who I work with, but for a while now, I have been feeling like I am just not valued here and felt that I needed to make a change. So, pretty soon I will be starting some training courses and by June, I may be the next emergency dispatcher in our county! I am super excited about this change (and also kind of terrified! But mostly excited.) and can’t wait to see where my life will take me next!

**Update 2/1/23: Still working at the old job. Some stuff came up and the other job fell through**

And lastly

I have read so many great books and I am ready to share them all with you!! I have read some amazing books so far this year, and have even strayed from my usual reading and started trying some genres that I’ve never read before.

Since I started reading for fun (not until my early 20’s) I have pretty much stuck to romance. I found romance novels, decided I like them, and never strayed from that genre. But I had this revelation one night. What if I’m missing out on some amazing stories just because I stay in my comfort zone? So I went and bought a book that I wouldn’t have normally picked and guys… I loved it!

What I’ve Been Reading

Anyway, I’ll get to why you are here. I’ve discovered new genres and some new (new to me anyway) amazing authors and I am so excited to share them with you! So here we go…

The Winston Brothers Series

This series is absolutely wonderful. The dynamic of this family is amazing and so loving, the romances are adorable and they are all around a nice cozy light read. If you use Audible, the narrators are fantastic and do such a great job portraying these stories and the characters.

Knitting In The City Series

Before you read the Winston Brothers series, you HAVE to read this series because they are loosely tied to each other. One of the characters from this series is a member of the Winston family. You really don’t have to read both series, but I think you get more of a whole picture if you start here and work your way to the Winston Brothers. I promise you won’t be disappointed. Plus you’ll have even more great books to read!

The Lost Apothecary

This book was where my quest to read things other than romance started and I was so not disappointed! This is one of my new favorites and I am so happy I strayed a bit from my normal because this book was just so good!

Colleen Hoover

I also discovered who has to be my new favorite author. Colleen Hoover gained a new loyal fan when I read Verity. This was such a fantastically twisted book and I couldn’t put it down!

She then had me as a fan for life when I read It Ends With Us. I’m always afraid I’ll say too much and spoil the book for someone so let me just say, I urge every young woman to read this book! Not only is it a beautiful story, but the content it touches on is so important for us all to be aware of.

Colleen writes so well and her stories are beautifully thought out. I can’t wait to read more of her work. Ugly Love, and Maybe Someday are next on my list!

I also started a little, I guess you could say project, in regards to banned or challenged books. I feel very strongly that banning books is just plain not ok and so I decided to buy as many banned books as I could find, and I’m going to read them and share them everywhere I can. So far I have read one and am currently on my second one.

Maus

Now I have never in my life read, or even wanted to read a graphic novel, but I think this one changed my mind. This book is heartbreaking and yet I couldn’t stop reading it.

It recounts the experience of the author’s father during the Holocaust. It’s brutal, and it’s honest and I believe everyone should read this. I can’t wait until I can read part 2!

Well, I have missed y’all and I’m so happy to be back! I hope you find some new books to enjoy here! Let me know how you like them. If you’ve read any before, let me know in the comments how you felt about them!