Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Leap Into Books & Score Good Stuff!

The cool thing about Leap Year
is we have...
an extra day to read!

So I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and Jinky Is Reading got together and created a blog hop just so we could all score a passel of good books and other prizes.

I'm a writer but my first love was and always will be reading.  Don't you just love to lose yourself in a different world, be a different character, experience a different time?  What's your favorite genre? Subgenre?

I'm all over the place with my reading.  My first reading binge of one type of book came in the fifth grade and I just couldn't get enough fictional biographies.  By junior high (no, we didn't have middle school back then), I read westerns--Louis L'Amour and Zane Grey, plus several other authors. 

By high school, if it was fantasy, I'd read it.  Sorcerers, magic, unicorns, evil wizards--too bad Harry Potter happened a long time afterwards or I'd have been a crazy-addict.  In college, when I had time to read, it was a murder mystery.  I like cozies.  I want a dead body on that first page and then puzzle out whodunit.  Great fun. 

But then I got on a Greek mythology kick.  Mary Renault was responsible for that--I loved, loved, loved all her books!  Well, not all.  I have the last one she wrote before she passed on but I don't have the heart to read it because I know there won't be any more. :(

You see a pattern here?  I go in genre reading streaks.  Romance?  I didn't start reading romance until about fifteen years ago.  Actually, I'd read one but was so annoyed with the "hero" that I thought he should be shot on sight, and then when the heroine declared her love even though he'd been so mean to her, that did it for me.  It was my daughter who practically forced me into reading another.  "You can't judge a whole genre by one book, Mom!"  So I did read another, and of course loved it.  So I read a couple hundred more within a few months.  They were a godsend while I was recovering from pneumonia.

I loved Romances so much, in fact, that I started writing my own books.  But I can't stay in one sub-genre.  First I wrote a science fiction romance (that will never see light of day!), then I wrote a couple western historical romances, then hopped into fantasy romance.  Now I go back and forth between those two, and now I've started a YA fantasy (not romance) series, too (hope to be finished by the end of this year).

Apparently my reading habits didn't translate into my writing habits because I can never stay in one sub-genre for longer than two or three books, then I'm off to something else.

For the Leap Into Books Giveaway Hop, I'm picking five commenters and each will can choose which book they'd most like to read.  Here are the choices:

Much Ado About Marshals: western historical romance
Down Home Ever Lovin' Mule Blues: western contemporary romance
Faery Merry Christmas: fantasy romance
Faery Special Romances: fantasy romance
So leave a comment...
What are your reading patterns?  Do you like to mix'em up, or do you read everything you can find in one sub-genre?  Or do you read all of one author's books, than another author's?  Is your favorite book of all time in current your favorite genre or sub-genre?  (Be sure to leave your email address so I can contact you, or else I'll have to pick another winner.)

Give us the goods!

After you leave your comment here,
leap to these blogs for more fab prizes!

17 comments:

Lisa Richards/alterlisa said...

If reading a series I tend to read as many of the books in the series back to back as I can. I read the "In Death" series by JD Robb at 30+ books strong in batches of 5 to 6 books at a time. I would take a short break and read a trilogy or a couple of stand alones and then tackle it again. Managed to read them in less than 6 months. I do tend to jump around in the genres if not reading a series as I love so many different types.

(\___/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")

alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com

http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/

momma8385 said...

My favorite type of books to read are historical romance. I really enjoy them. Thank you for this great giveaway.
:) Jeanne, jeannebates_t@yahoo.com

Tiff Pull said...

Currently I read alot of YA paranormal fiction. I don't mind mixing it up. When I love an author i will read everything i can get my hands on by that author. My favorite book of all time is the Host it fits into my paranormal sub-genre but it is an Adult book. Thanks so much for the giveaway.

pulliam_t@yahoo.com

LauraJJ said...

Love the historical romances! Would love to read Much Ado About Marshals: western historical romance!
Thanks for the great giveaway!
landfjacobson @ charter.net

Anne said...

I read just about every genre, but my current fav is urban fantasy.

acm05atjuno.com

Unknown said...

I read almost anything, but my favorites are western romances and any type of mystery.

Cindy said...

I jump around. I will read 2 or 3 books of one genre then need a change. If reading a series I will try and read the whole series.
I just finished reading a couple of books by Harlan Corben and have started reading "Outlander" By Diana Gabaldon
Thank you for the chance to win your giveaway.
cindymacbeth at gmail dot com

Puie said...

I like to read different genres whenever I'm in the mood :D
It's best to switch around or else you'll get bored.
Email: puieread at yahoo dot com

camp3369 said...

I like to read romances and self help books
annette3369@yahoo.com

Katrina said...

I always have to pick like 18 books at a time out because I never know what I will want. Romance. Fantasy. Thriller. Mystery. Self help. Even random Non Fiction. My shelves are a disaster. :)

oneagainst at hotmail dot com

Unknown said...

I tend to read across genres, but tend to "binge" on a specific genre once in awhile (right now I'm reading a lot of UF and Fantasy) -- BUT, I also follow 30+ series and have a list of fave authors that flagged to buy as soon as the new book releases. Occasionally, I'll just read an entire author's series, from beginning to end (usually when it's been a while in between books)

elizabeth @ bookattict . com

Unknown said...

I have downloaded so many different genres, I now let me kids choose a book on my kindle and read it. lol
Lmackesy@gmail.com

Gwen LTP said...

I kinda mix it up. Sometimes I will get going on a certain genra for a bit but I like to go off on tangents. Mostly because of hops like this - I find interesting new books to read and jump into them!
ghtough (at) gmail (dot) com

Krysykat said...

I mix and match the genres I read, like to keep it fresh :P If I really like an author I do tend to try and read as many of their books as I can.

Morganlafey86(at)aol(dot)com

DMS said...

I go on a kick where I read everything I can by a certain author and then I switch to someone else or another genre. If I find something I like- I read them all! :) Great giveaway!

GFC follower: jess/Fairday Morrow
email: haightjess at gmail dot com


My blog is participating in the hop, too. Swing on by to enter for a chance to win a gift card and a book. :)
~Jess
http://thesecretdmsfilesoffairdaymorrow.blogspot.com/

Barbara R. said...

I read everyday than I miss days because I get busy. I read different kinds of books, Romance, Mystery and than Biography's. From time to time I do read all that an Author writes. My favorite book of all tie is Pride and Prejudice. No one can write like Jane Austin. She is classic.
Barbara Ryan fotw_1999 at yahoo dot com

bn100 said...

I like to read different genres.

bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com