Romance and Love or Everything Else? What Are You Reading This Week?

Release week is over, and I was overwhelmed and so touched by the outpouring of love and support I received for Water So Deep. I cannot tell you all how much it means to me to have all of you jumping in to help raise my new baby book.

But now I feel like I've talked about it nonstop for months, and it's time to talk about something else. Like love and Valentine's Day.

I mean, let's face it. Valentine's Day has become a bit of a commercialized cliche, which is focused more on kids than on adults who are actually in love. I think in a lot of ways it's better this way because then all those people who are unattached can still enjoy the day, seeing little kids sharing their candy and cards. But that still doesn't take away the sting of feeling invisible or forgotten.

That's the beauty of reading, though, I think. I am such a sucker for a good old fashioned romance novel. And not the Nicholas Sparks kid of ending, either. Happy endings. Boy gets the girl or girl gets the boy, or whatever whatever, and the couple falls in love and overcomes all odds and obstacles because in the end they belong together. That is my favorite Valentine's Day reading go-to.

Because kissing. And love. And all things romantic.

(Side note: if you're reading Water So Deep right now, please don't hate me at the end! I promise book two will bring closure!)

This week, I'm reading Joyce DiPastena's The Lady and the Minstrel, Ally Condie's Atlantia, and This Shattered World by Aimee Kaufman and Meagan Spooner. I won't finish all three in a week, because I have a deadline of my own, but still. Those are on my nightstand right now.

What will you be reading this week? And is it romance and love or everything but that? I'm curious.

Books are Still For Lovers

Last year, my friend Lisa put together Books are for Lovers, a sort-of support campaign aimed at brick and mortar bookstores. And let’s face it, bookstores need love too. I don’t think anyone wants to see physical bookstores disappear from society, even if we read more e-books than regular ones.

Ink and paper books just have a distinctly special smell, a texture that cannot be imitated, and the experience of reading one is completely different from that of reading an electronic book.

So this Valentine’s Day, we encourage you to treat yourself, and maybe even those you love, to a real ink and paper book from a brick and mortar store. Barnes and Noble, independent bookstores, wherever your community goes to buy books in person.

I’m going. Not sure what I’ll choose, but I have a list of books I’d love to read, so we’ll see what I can find. The question is how many will come home with me.

If you participate, be sure to stop by and tell me what you bought! Oh, and also, visit Lisa’s blog and enter the Books are for Lovers contest.

Speaking of lovers, being the hopeless and ridiculous romantic that I am, I love Valentine’s Day. Not because I receive expensive gifts or get to eat out (though, that does happen on rare occasions), but because I love when people express their love for others. I love to give my kids a special little something—even if it’s just a chocolate bar. I don’t need an excuse, of course, but having a day designated for that expression is sometimes a good reminder for people, and the truth is, I think we all need reminders sometimes.

So tell me, what are you doing for the people you love this week?