Summer Reading Update #2

Well, we're down to the wire now...we only have another 9 days left to finish all of our reading. I'm done (I'm on my 3rd sheet now) but the kids have one visit left to go. We went this evening and picked up 10 more books for My Girl (we read TO her) and My Boy picked out a few more too. He's done pretty good - he has to read 200 pages each time and he's been doing it (with our help sometimes).

So as long as we get back there with our completed forms by July 31st, we're golden. And I think I mentioned this before, if we all wear our t-shirts into the library before the end of August, they'll give us a $30 movie gift certificate (woo hoo!). And of course, that's what the kids have been looking forward to (nevermind the free t-shirt too!).

I've been reading variety of books...and because I haven't been blogging I don't have the list to share. But I can tell ya I FINALLY finished the very short High Heels series I started last year. Just love Gemma Halliday's High Heels series!! It's about a shoe designer that keeps getting caught up in a murder mystery...all the while lusting after her hot Hispanic boyfriend Jack Ramirez and being tempted by the Brit tabloid report Felix Dunn. To check out the series, visit Gemma's website.

I'm happy to hear that Felix has his own series starting called Hollywood Headlines. I'll be happy to start reading this series very soon too.

I've also been enjoying books written by Mary Kay Andrews. I was smitten with the first book I read (Deep Dish). The next one (Hissy Fit) moved a little slower for me, but it was also enjoyable. Now I'm reading Savannah Breeze which is a sequel to Savannah Blues, but that one wasn't at the library so I didn't get to read it first. Apparently I forgot to read the jacket on Breeze because I was shocked (kinda) when the heroine got taken to the cleaners by a rouge beau. Now I'm eager to get through the book to find out if they catch him!

I have noticed a theme in most of the books I've been reading lately...they all seem to have a cantankerous old lady in them - I guess they bring a little comic relief to the stories. I thought it was just an Evanovich thing...but it seems to be in all the books I've been reading this summer!

At any rate - really enjoying all the reading I've been doing...just wish I had more time!

Time for the Summer Reading Program!!

We love the Palatine Library's Summer Reading Program. I think in the beginning (for My Boy) it was all about the free T-Shirt at the end. Then last year it became more about the challenge of completing the form (because the year before that it was me reading to him & last year was his first year to be on his own). This year is different. Don't get me wrong, it's still about the T-Shirt and completing the form - but this time it's also about enjoying the books.

I had honestly started to think My Boy was never going to get into reading. But just suddenly he's decided to read for entertainment. He actually voluntarily decided to read INSTEAD of watch TV! I could NOT believe it. I'm still in shock!

We signed up for the library's Summer Reading Program last night and he is so jazzed to get through his first 200 pages (he has to read 2 books totalling 200 pages for each of the 4 visits before the end of July).

My Girl is also doing it again - she's still in the "read to me" group and so we have to read 10 books for each visit. My Boy has even volunteered to read to her too!

This is my second year to sign up. I got bit by the reading bug last year and didn't think I'd be able to read 5 books (the entire requirement for adults) but instead read 15 before the end of the summer! (adults have until the end of August).

So we stocked up on our books yesterday and I'm already almost done with my first book. I was bummed to learn that I've completed the Stephanie Plum series (I'm waiting for book 15 to come out this month). So now I'll have to find a new heroine to read about. If you have any suggestions - please let me know! I'm really into the romantic comedy/mysteries. If it can make me laugh out loud, has a mystery to solve and a hot guy in it - I'm there!

I also love love F Paul Wilson - I am desperately waiting for the 13th Repairman Jack novel to come out (due out this October). I would LOVE to find a copy of The Touch - can't find it anywhere (but online, but I'm a brick & mortar kind of girl!). I'm trying to read the Adversary Cycle in order (already read The Keep & Rakoshi, back when it was called The Tomb). May just need to re-read some of the RJ books before October - I felt out-of-touch when I read By The Sword last fall.

So is it weird that I now associate summer with reading? I love reading season! ;o)