Guilty Reader Book Tag

Every reader has bookish habits that they may or may not be proud of. Who am I to judge, well, maybe. It is time for another book tag.

Have you ever regifted a book you've been given?

I've donated to Goodwill, does that count? My friends who read don't really like the same books I do. They have sometimes gifted me books that I tried to read, but had to pass on. I don't even bother trying to get them to read smut.

Have you ever said you have read a book when you haven't?

What would be the point of that? If I couldn't get into a book, I'll tell you. I'm not a fan of lying, really. So, no I would not do that.

Have you ever borrowed a book and not returned it?

To a person? No. To the library? Yes. I'm not proud of it. I was a new adult and my Dad found some Wiccan books I'd borrowed from the library. He took them and I didn't find them till years later. The damage had already been done. I'd paid the price of the books. 

Have you ever read a series out of order?

All. The. Time. I am currently reading Sara Cate's Salacious Players Club out of order. Love the kink club!

Have you ever spoiled a book for someone?

I truly try not too, but I get so excited about a book, that I often overshare and spoil it for others. I think this is the problem of most book lovers. I have had others do this to me, too.

Have you ever dog-eared a book?

Absolutely not! I also do not Crack book spines. Respect the books.

Have you ever told someone you don't own a book when you do?

I'm pretty honest about books I have, but I refuse to loan them out. Well, I might for my writer friend, but only because she has loaned to me.

Have you ever skipped a chapter or a section of a book?

Chapter, no. Sections, yes. Sometimes when you've read one sexy time scene, you've read them all. I'll skim over these parts sometimes, unless somethings catches my eye. Or, if that's all the book is about, I'll read every word. 

Have you ever bad-mouthed a book you actually like?

I'll mention things I didn't like about a book that I liked as a whole. But, I don't even really bad-mouth books I don't like.  I just simply state what made me stop. No need to trash an author's baby.

My Favorite Book Blogs

As a new book blogger I am always reading book blogs. For inspiration, for advice, and just for fun, I'm following other book blogs as often as possible. 

The Uncorked Librarian

I'm not a huge fan of the books they review, but their book blogging and bookstagram posts keep me coming back for more. They blog about travel and books. Sprinkled with the educational posts I mentioned before.

Pages Unbound

Another one I don't follow for reviews. I'm a smut reader. I have been for 20 years and I probably will be for 20 more. Their book blogging posts are great to me. I also like their posts on classics. I started out by reading the classics so they will always have a special place in my heart.

Heather Reads Too Much

I like that they read romance. They also have a bookstagram I follow. Theirs is so much more beautiful than my bookstagram. A fellow blogspot blogger that also has a current blog. So many book bloggers have given up. Even WordPress blogs have been going belly up.

A Bit Smutty

Finally a fellow smutty book blogger. They don't blog about book blogging, but I don't really either. They don't really blog about the same kind of smutty books I do either. I don't mind, though. I'm just glad to read some smutty reviews. 

Smut Matters

This blog was a new discovery and a site I plan on following closely for great reads. I can't tell if story has accidental pregnancies in her reviews, but there seem to be others that are my type.

Saucy Southern Reader

Another smutty book reviewer. The thing I love about their blog is that they add a bit about the author. They also provide plenty of links, both on how to buy the books, and also how to contact and follow authors. 

Tales Past Midnight

This blogger mostly blogs about fantasy. I read fantasy, but only if it's fantasy smut. What this blogger does have is lifestyle and book blogger posts. I'll follow any blogger that offers fantastic book blogger advice!

Book Blogging, For Fun Or For Profit?

I've been planning on moving to WordPress eventually. One of the things I'll be able to do when I make the move is monetize my blog. The jury is still out on whether I will being trying to turn book blogging into my actual job. There are pros and cons to each side. Perhaps, after reading my arguments for each side, you can help me with this decision. 

FOR FUN

Pros

It's less ridged. Blogging is not really a ridged job anyway, but there is a sense of business when you do it for profit. When it's for fun you want the views, but you aren't tied to them.

If I want to skip a day of scheduled blogging, I can. Of course, it's better for views to keep it scheduled. However, sometimes I forget it's post day. Sometimes I accidentally post on an odd day. Oops it's are more forgivable if your blog is for fun.

Cons

You have to pay for everything. The $200 or more I have to pay out of pocket to start a WordPress blog is to be repeated when your time is up. Whether it's yearly or every three years. Add to that the paid versions of Canva and mailing lists and more that help the blog run more smoothly. It's a headache. 

A lot of work! A blog is a lot of work so get no return on. Sure you can keep the fun alive longer if your blog is for fun rather than profit. Even without being a legit job, you still have to put in the work. And that's a lot of work to get no return on. The possibility of getting burnt out on blogging is very real.

FOR PROFIT 

Pros

The flip-side of the con of a fun blog is that you may build your blog enough to, at least, pay for itself. Best case scenario is that you may even have some leftover to spend on yourself. 

You have a legit job. At the moment I'm getting a disability check, and I'm a stay at home wife (children are grown). It's embarrassing to admit my work situation when people ask. Especially my siblings. They are always checking on me to see if I'm a productive member of society, again, yet. Having a monetized blog is an impressive job to claim.

Cons

Taxes are a pain in the butt. If you have a regular job, your employer files paperwork so it's easier to file taxes. When you work for yourself, you have to save all your receipts and file all paperwork yourself. So, on top of coming up with great content, you have to save anything that can be written off and record all your money coming in.

Once you have decided to make your blog for profit you have to write a disclaimer at the top of all posts you may make a profile off of. You also have pages you have to make. At least, you need a privacy policy, a full disclaimer page, a media kit to attract paid post opportunities. 

My Favorite Drinks To Drink While Reading

When I read, I like to keep a drink near by. Most of the time it's non alcoholic. Sometimes I splurge on a glass of wine or a cocktail. I decided to make a list of the favorite drinks to have on hand.

Water

I have a cheap water bottle from the Dollar Tree. I fill it so much that we had to start getting bagged ice to cover my ice usage. This is my number one favorite drink to have on hand. As a bonus, I have lost 80lbs by upping my water consumption. 

Diet Coke

I used to drink Dr. Pepper exclusively. At 328lbs I had to make changes. Diet coke was one of those changes. I'm lucky that my husband works at a discount alcohol and cigarette store/gas station. He gets unlimited free sodas, but he doesn't really like soda. I get to cash in.

Tea

My favorite hot drink. My tea kettle developed some holes in it, so I haven't had a chance to drink this for awhile. I love all kinds of tea. I currently have beauty tea, peppermint, chamomile, and detox tea. I have some plans on more tea to purchase. I drink out of my giant "I love geeks" mug, which I'm not sure why I have since I'm the geek. That should be my husband's mug.

Coffee 

I do like straight coffee, I do, but I love tasty coffee more. It's why I can't lose anymore weight than I have. I do try to keep my tasty coffee to a minimum, though. At home I mix creamer and hot chocolate into my coffee. It's a concoction that my husband came up with. When we go out I like vanilla cupcake or pumpkin spice lattes. I like cold coffee, but I drink those too fast to have often. 

Wine

Alcoholism runs in my family so I'm very spare on alcoholic drinks. I don't drink regular wine unless it's a spritzer. I much prefer sweet wine. I'm always taking suggestions for a good sweet wine, if you care to help a girl out.  Wine is the only alcohol I will drink alone, and only a glass or two at most.

Bloody Mary

I'm such an introvert that, even when hanging out with others, I always keep my Kindle in reach. In fact I'm planning on getting a purse big enough to hold it. That's neither here nor there, though. I usually ordered Jack and coke. Which made me feel totally Gretchen Wilson. But, I don't listen to her much anymore. When out for my birthday, last year, I noticed my sister-in-love order a bloody mary. I decided to try one, I was hooked. When out to dinner I like to order a bloody mary. My husband, as I've mentioned, works at a discount liquor store. He told me they carry premixed cocktails and mixer. So, next time we have drinks at home I can have my favorite. Admittedly I don't get quite as much reading done with a bloody mary. They put me to sleep!

Love To Hate You by Ava Gray

I've been wanting to read a book by this author for awhile. It may be a bit shallow, but the name drew me in. When I read that this was an accidental pregnancy novel, I couldn't resist. I hope to read more by this author in the future.

Charlie and Noah are bitter rivals at work. When his dad promotes Charlie over Noah, he leaves the company. But, then Noah's dad dies and he comes back determined to take her job. But, he wasn't prepared for being immediately taken with her. He fights for her and falls in love. But, she desperately wants to be president of the company.

I think Charlie was a bit of a bitch in the story. I get that she felt she had to be, but I couldn't really relate to her until the end.

Endless Obsession by Alex Grayson

Oh my God! Trigger warning here. This is a story with a stalker and his victim fall in love. If that is too much for you, skip this read. It will be too much for you. However if the obsessed MMC is right up your alley then grap a glass of wine and cuddle up with this intense read.

Asher has been obsessed with Poppy for a year. Because of some health issues he has stayed in the shadows, watching her, and sending her flowers. During the day he is her quiet and shy boss. When a new, malicious, stalker arrives on the scene. Asher tries to protect her from afar.

I had this book in my TBR list for months before I bought it. And left it unread on my Kindle for weeks. What was wrong with me? Despite the stalker content I was enthralled.

Reasons I Love Book Blogging

Although I've been blogging since I was 12 years old, I've only been book blogging since January. I'm hooked. I don't pretend that I'll be doing this forever, and I don't for a second think I'm good at this. But, if you are looking for a reason to join the club, allow me to tip the scales in book blogging's favor.

1. I get to read as much as I want

Not that I need an excuse to read more. Having an excuse to read more is wonderful, though.

2. I get to write

Behind reading, writing is important to me. I want to write romance novels, but I'm not very good at it. Blogging allows me to write in a way that I can without having to write a novel.

3. I have to think 

It's good for you to think and book blogging has me constantly thinking. It takes a lot of thinking to write a post like this, and I write short posts! I often put down a post for awhile because I'm all out of thoughts. Then I come back to it later.

4. All the planning

I know it sounds like a stupid thing to love, but I'm a planner sort of girl. I've only recently gone digital for all my planning needs. I still love the process, though.

My Real Life Love Story

A different type of post today. My wedding anniversary is October 30th. Because I spend all my time obsessing over fictional relationships, I thought to pull my head out of the books and share my story, minus the spicy scenes. I'll allude to it, but you don't need details.

We met in college. Both of us were "older" students at age 25. It wasn't a regular college either, it took programs that normally to 2 to 4 years to complete and compacted them down to half the time. At the time we were both certificate students. Meaning it was a six month program. He was almost done and I was just starting. We talked all the time. I'd been trying to drop hints, but he wasn't sure I was interested. So, on his last day of class he told me I was going to be the only thing he'd miss about the school. I looked him in the eye and said "we need to hang out." I thought he might not be interested, but he'd make a great friend at least. 

He asked me out the next night. We went out for drinks, and he paid my way all night. At the end of the night we kissed and he told me I was "worth the wait." I probably would have given it up right then, and I wasn't drunk. He was just that much a gentleman. 

For seven years we dated. He stayed with me through me being homeless and me getting my bachelor's degree. After seven years he cooked me dinner and bought champagne. At the table he started unloading his pockets and I was a little worried what he was looking for. Then he pulled out a jewelry box and asked me to marry him. I had despaired the day would ever come. Seven years is a long time to date. Although, my great grandma dated her husband for 30 years before he asked her to marry him!

After we got engaged we decided to have a two year engagement. His family didn't like me and we wanted to get them used to the idea. We planned a $400 dollar wedding (I adore being frugal) but no one would come, from his side or mine. So, we ended up going to the courthouse. I had a friend from college stand up with me, and we grabbed a guy getting married to stand up with my husband. Two days later we hosted an open house at my apartment. 

We lived in two separate houses for a year, he was taking care of his mom and uncle and there was no room in the house for me too. After a year of being married, his uncle decided to move out.i ended up moving in and helping to take care of his mom. She passed away, from cancer, three years later.

Which leads us up to today, his family likes me a little more because I took care of his mom till the end. My husband and I drive each other crazy, but we are happy, and still in love. I don't know what I'd do without someone this supportive of my reading and blogging.

Of Romance And Favorite Tropes: A Romance Tag

I pretty much exclusively read romance novels. And I love, love! When it came time for me to choose another book tag, I couldn't help myself with choosing a romance book tag.

An underrated romance you wish more people would read

I find all my books on Facebook ads and Facebook book groups. I'm not sure which books are underrated in the first place. So, I can't really answer this question. 

An author you used to love that you have since abandoned

I haven't abandoned her all together, but I used to read every Sofia T. Summers book that I came across. However, I'm picky about books I read now, I prefer characters that already know each other at the beginning of the book. Not all her books are like that, so I pass on those.

Favorite trope

I used to say Brother's Best Friend, to this question. I still love that trope, but I think I like Friends To Lovers more. I can't get enough. I like an added Accidental Pregnancy thrown in.

Best book with  your favorite trope 

Right now? I would say The F*** It List by Alexis Winter it really is always changing, though. 

Best romance/rom-com movie

I really enjoyed Purple Hearts on Netflix. I'm also a huge fan of Bridgerton on Netflix. 

Your all-time favorite romance 

I can't choose! They are all so good! A book I'm recommending right now is Give Me More by Sara Cate.