So, with action still being the name of the game, comes the first of the book reviews that is part of my “challenge” this year.  I’m participating (I can’t remember if I mentioned this before) in a reading challenge from a fellow author named, Roni Loren (www.roniloren.com), where she suggested that you challenge yourself by pushing your reading boundaries.

First of all, I started reading many moons ago, when my father would take my sister and I to the bookstore once a week to get a book.  We could get any book that we wanted, but for that first time, I believe I chose a version of Betty and Veronica.  I never realized that I was delving into the realm of graphic comics or what it would do for me and my life, but I can say that it changed everything.  

It wasn’t too long after that when I picked up my first novel, Gentle Rogue by Johanna Lindsey, that I discovered my love for romance.  (I would like to add at this point that many of the books that I was reading for school at the time like, Anne of Green Gables, grew on my as I got older.)  But, I picked up this first novel on at a bookstore at the airport and thought it would keep me occupied for the long flight overseas and thus began my love of books.

I was a pretty stick romance fan for a few years and slowly but surly have begun to push my boundaries. *smirk*  I read all of the Harry Potter books when they came out and at the encouragement of friends, tried The Hunger Games and loved it.  I took the Percy Jackson series on a whim and have realized that maybe there’s more out there than I originally thought.  

So, when Roni Loren suggested this 2014 Reading Challenge, I eagerly, (if digitally) raised my hand and the rest is history.  (or so I’ve heard)

I put together a list of genres that are in my wheel house, pushing my boundaries, and just flat outside my comfort zone; and will slowly be working my way through this list as the year progresses.  Eventually, I’m going to have to work my way to Stephen King and I’m really not looking forward to that.  (NOT because he’s not an amazing writer – because he is, but because I’m the worst wimp when it comes to horror.  Just wanted to clarify.)

Okay….so the first book that I chose was YA and that is defiantly in my wheel house, but I always get a little nervous reading YA because I’m never exactly sure what to expect.  

 

The first book I chose the book, Divergent by Veronica Roth, and I am so happy to say that it was amazing.  It’s funny, because my husband and I saw the trailer for this movie due to come out this year, and we decided that we wanted to read the books first before it came out but I wasn’t sure what to expect from it.  

So, we downloaded the book to my husband’s iPhone and listened to it as we drove for almost twelve hours to visit my family over Christmas.  The book is great.  I was curious to see how it would be because I was expecting some similarities to The Hunger Games, but it was very different and written very well.  My husband and I, who have never downloaded an audio book before, hung on every word that the narrator was saying and that was the shortest twelve hour trip that I’ve ever taken.  If you haven’t had the chance to read this book yet, please do, because it is just awesome.  I’m never quite sure how to explain because I don’t want to give it away (for those that haven’t read it yet), but I will say that the story hooked me from the start and I really cared about the characters and what was happening to them.  We immediately downloaded Allegiant, and since we are home now, are slowly working our way through that.

So, I started in my wheel house.  The next book is going to be a little bit more outside my comfort zone. *smiles*

How about you?  What are you reading right now?  What genres are your favorite and which are ones you would never read?