I really do love to read….

My husband LOVES a hardcover book.  He likes the weight in his hands. The feel of substance.  Me? Not so much. The weight and substance are just that….weight and substance.  Something heavy I have to hold while I am reading.

Do I buy hardcover books for myself?  I sure do because there are some authors that I pre-order months in advance, write the release date on my calendar, and then wait in anticipation for the book to arrive.  I JUST.CAN’T.WAIT! Do you do this too or is it just me?

Another style of ‘reading’ is the audio book. I also listen to a bunch of audio books.  For me, the beauty of audio books is multifaceted:

1. The readers are sometimes actors so their character development is awesome.  I can usually tell who the person in the book is by the actors' voices.

2. When it comes to my favorite authors I buy the hardcover AND the audio books.  As I am reading the book I read in the voice of the audio book. It almost comes to life in my head.

3. I can listen to a book while I am crafting – especially when I am coloring.

4. I can listen to a book while I am driving.

I have had an Audible subscription for many years now so my collection is rather large.

In Audible I buy the yearly membership which makes the price per book pretty inexpensive. I have listened to some of the books multiple times – I love them that much. I even keep track of which ones I have listened to and the date :). Gotta love organization!

Recently someone asked me which audiobooks were my favorites.

These are my favs because the actors act – PLUS I love the story line.

All of my faves in a series:

• Louise Penny – Three Pine Series. Armand Gamache is the head of the Sûreté du Québec, Canada. I wrote a post about one of the books a few months ago – ‘The Three Pines Mystery’. In fact, my husband and I went to Canada to find  the characters in the story. It was one of our best vacations yet – the Eastern Townships of Canada are beautiful,

  The 1st book is – ‘Still Life’.

• JD Robb – In Death Series. Eve Dallas is a NY City cop. She has had a rough life but is currently married to the richest man ‘on or off planet’. The books are set in the future (2060).  When JD Robb began her Eve Dallas series, about 20 years ago, all of the ‘future elements’ were unheard of and now we are actually doing them ourselves (like self driving cars).  I have listened to some of these as many as 10 times. As an FYI – these are NOT G rated.

  The 1st book is – ‘Naked in Death’.

  Fun Fact – JD Robb is actually Nora Roberts. And, their writing styles are totally different? How can she do that?

• Rhys Bowen – Her Royal Spyness Series.  Lady Victoria Georgiana “Georgie” Charlotte Eugenie, cousin of King George V of England, is flat broke and trying to survive on her own as an ordinary person in London in 1932. She is 34th in line to the thrown.  I have learned so much about the protocols of the royal family. Very light and entertaining listening (and reading). The reader tho is amazing. She has many different voices.

  The 1st book is – ‘Her Royal Spyness’.

• Jame Patterson – Alex Cross Series. Alex is a DC cop. I find it amazing what one person can do to another and justify it. I love how his life evolves and I love his ‘Nana’. I want a Nana too 🙂

  The 1st book is – ‘Along Came a Spider’.

My non series favorites:

• ‘Redeeming Love’ – Francine Rivers

• All the Harry Potter series on audio book is amazing. The 1st book is –”Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone’.

• ‘The Girl on the Train’ – Paula Hawkins

• ‘Where the Crawdads Sing’ – Delia Owens

• ‘When Crickets Cry’ – Charles Martin (the only book I have ever finished and then immediately reread – I loved it so much).

I am currently listening to ‘Before We Were Yours’ by Lisa Wingate. It is a fascinating story. I just googled it and found out that it is historical fiction based on a real-life scandal. Georgia Tann, director of a Memphis-based adoption organization, kidnapped and sold poor children to wealthy families all over the country. I had no idea and now it became even better but a whole lot sadder. I highly recommend this book.

In the queue:

‘Blue Moon Bay’ – Lisa Wingate
‘Break Shot’ – James Taylor. Only available on Audible
’Stay’ – Catherine Ryan Hyde
’Unspeakable Things’ – Jess Lourey
’Me’ – Elton John Official Biography

If you don’t have an Audible account, and would like to give it a try they have a 14 day FREE trial.

There is 1 other way to read books that I have not talked about because I have never tried it – on a tablet. Whether that be an iPad, kindle, nook or other tablet. If you have one – do you like it? Let me know in the comments below.

Do you listen to audiobooks?  If you do, do you have any recommendations for me? (I don’t like scary 🙂

Thanks and enjoy!