8 Reasons a NON-Reader should READ

Hey gang! Yesterday I volunteered at my local book fair. There were over 100+ thousand books! A book lovers dream come true, for sure. While I was checking out a woman around my age or maybe older at the register (she bought about 500 dollars in book 0_o) her daughter was complaining about wanting to go home, and that she couldn't understand why her Mother even liked to read. She said it was boring and a waste of time and money. While I know not everyone is a reader but this saddened me to see this teen show so much angst against her Mothers' love of books. So I decided to make a list of reasons why I feel a non-reader should read or at least try. Granted books are not for everyone, and I understand that but I'm hoping this list will help those non-readers think about picking a book and trying. 

If you know anyone who doesn't care for reading, friends, family, or co-workers share this list with them. ;) 

1. An escape from real life. I feel when I'm reading I can go into another world, another life, and escape my own for a while. Books are the PERFECT vacation you can take everyday and have a new one as often as you like. 

2. Lets your imagination go wild and grow. It's kind of like watching a movie in your head instead of being on a screen. You can picture the characters how you see them and see the story play out in your mind, the way you like. There are no bounds to what you can imagine. It's always a lot of fun. 

3. Reading helps improve your spelling, vocabulary and grammar. Honestly, I feel I have learned more from reading books than in HS English. Reading for fun for any age and grade  and it may help improve your performance in class. Also reading enhance visual and motor skills. 

4. There are so many genre's of books out there, and more so now than ever. I feel if a non-reader can find the RIGHT genre of book they more likely will be inclined to read and try new genres and sub-genre's. 

5. Reading opens up doors. You don't know how many new and awesome friends I've made since reading and blogging. Places like Goodreads, blogs, twitter and such is a fun way to meet others. Joining book clubs, and even talking and meeting authors are also exciting! Finding others who love to read and getting recommendations of what books are hot and not. There is such a GREAT reading community online for readers and writers alike.

6. BOOK BOYFRIENDS/GIRLFRIENDS! Need I say more?! HAHA. 

7. Reading is a healthy addiction! While many teens and adult spend hours and hours watching TV, playing video games, and spending time online. Books are something you can feel good about being addicted too and proud of doing. 

8. Finally, and this is a big one. Reading books can inspire you to write one of your own. Whether you end up self-publishing or mange to find a publishing company would wants to publish your book, either way your story makes it way into the world for anyone to read. 

What DO you think of my reasons? Are there any you agree with me on? What reason(s) do YOU feel a non-reader should be reading? I'd love to know. :)

Waiting on Wednesday #28: Invaded & The Secrets of Attraction

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, I'm waiting on...

Invaded by Melissa Landers
Series: Alienated #2
Number of Pages: 368

Expected publication: February 3rd 2015 by Disney-Hyperion

Genre: YA - Science Fiction > Romance

The romantic sequel to Alienated takes long-distance relationships to a new level as Cara and Aelyx long for each other from opposite ends of the universe...until a threat to both their worlds reunites them. 

Cara always knew life on planet L’eihr would be an adjustment. With Aelyx, her L’eihr boyfriend, back on Earth, working to mend the broken alliance between their two planets, Cara is left to fend for herself at a new school, surrounded by hostile alien clones. Even the weird dorm pet hates her.

Things look up when Cara is appointed as human representative to a panel preparing for a human colony on L’eihr. A society melding their two cultures is a place where Cara and Aelyx could one day make a life together. But with L’eihr leaders balking at granting even the most basic freedoms, Cara begins to wonder if she could ever be happy on this planet, even with Aelyx by her side.

Meanwhile, on Earth, Aelyx, finds himself thrown into a full-scale PR campaign to improve human-L’eihr relations. Humans don’t know that their very survival depends on this alliance: only Aelyx’s people have the technology to fix the deadly contamination in the global water supply that human governments are hiding. Yet despite their upper hand, the leaders of his world suddenly seem desperate to get humans on their side, and hardly bat an eye at extremists’ multiple attempts on Aelyx’s life.

The Way clearly needs humans’ help . . . but with what? And what will they ask for in return?

---

Hillary's is waiting on....

The Secrets of Attraction 
by Robin Constantine
Number of Pages: 384 pages
Expected publication: April 28th 2015 by Balzer + Bray
Genre: YA - Contemporary Romance

Set in the same world as The Promise of Amazing, this smart, surprising, and romantic follow-up to Robin Constantine's debut novel follows two New Jersey teens as they become friends and fall in love. Perfect for fans of Stephanie Perkins, Sarah Mlynowski, and Jennifer E. Smith.

Madison Pryce thinks she's got everything figured out—she's working on a portfolio for a summer art program and hanging with her friends. Plus she has her hot boyfriend, Zach. But then a visit from a family friend turns Maddie's life upside down.

Jesse McMann is still reeling from a breakup that shattered his heart and his band. Then pride (and some goading from his bass player and fellow barista) forces him to find a new drummer—and the inspiration to write music again.


Kismet arrives in the unlikely form of Grayson Barrett, who tries out for Jesse's band, and whose girlfriend is BFFs with the cute girl who orders a chai latte after yoga every Thursday: Maddie. What Jesse and Maddie thought they knew about the secrets of attraction and the rules of romance changes once they start falling for each other.

What book(s) are YOU waiting on this Wednesday?
Leave us a comment. We would love to know. :)

Release Day Launch: Breaking the Rules by Katie McGarry | Book Teaser from Noah’s POV + Giveaway!

We are so excited to bring you the Release Day launch for Katie McGarry's BREAKING THE RULES! BREAKING THE RULES is a Young Adult contemporary romance published by Harlequin Teen, and is the follow-up book to Katie's PUSHING THE LIMITS. You do not want to miss Noah and Echo's story! Grab it today!  Want to win a SIGNED set of the series? Enter the giveaway below! 

Breaking the Rules by Katie McGarry
Series: Pushing the Limits #1.5
Published: December 8th 2014 
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Genre: YA - Contemporary Romance

A summer road trip changes everything in this unforgettable new tale from acclaimed author Katie McGarry

For new high school graduate Echo Emerson, a summer road trip out west with her boyfriend means getting away and forgetting what makes her so... different. It means seeing cool sights while selling her art at galleries along the way. And most of all, it means almost three months alone with Noah Hutchins, the hot, smart, soul-battered guy who’s never judged her. Echo and Noah share everything — except the one thing Echo’s just not ready for.

But when the source of Echo’s constant nightmares comes back into her life, she has to make some tough decisions about what she really wants — even as foster kid Noah’s search for his last remaining relatives forces them both to confront some serious truths about life, love, and themselves.

Now, with one week left before college orientation, jobs and real life, Echo must decide if Noah's more than the bad-boy fling everyone warned her he'd be. And the last leg of an amazing road trip will turn... seriously epic.

Purchase @

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-A-Million | Kobo | iBooks | Google Play

And don’t forget to read the first books in the Pushing the Limits Series…

PUSHING THE LIMITS

CROSSING THE LINE

DARE YOU TO

CRASH INTO YOU

TAKE ME ON

From Noah’s POV

“Did you fall into some paint, Echo?” Isaiah asks, changing the subject.

Echo’s shoulder slumps as she pivots toward the mirror. She groans as she touches her cheek and forehead that are more red and pink than skin. “Dang it. Why am I such a mess?”

“I think it’s sexy as hell,” I say.

“I think I’m going to barf,” Beth mocks my tone.

Death radiates from the look I send her way. Enough that it should melt her. “Ever sleep in a tent, Beth?”

Beth focuses on the screen while raising her middle finger in my direction.

“Screw it.” Echo turns away from the mirror. “I need a shower.”

I smile, Echo blushes, then I laugh. Damn me for inviting Isaiah and Beth to share our room.

“Anyhow.” An excited glint strikes Echo’s eyes. “Are you ready? I hope you like it. It’s sort of…for you. But it’s not done, okay? I mean, something like this would actually take a while to perfect, so I guess I’m saying—”

“Echo.”

“Yeah?”

“It’s all good.”

“Okay.” Her fingers drum nervously over the top of the canvas before she repeats, “Okay.”

“I’m assuming that’s not the constellation Aires?”

“No. I’ll have to start on that tomorrow.” With a deep inhale, Echo pulls out a chair from the table and rests the painting on the arms and leans it against the back so it will stay upright.

Air rushes out of my body, and I sink onto our bed. It’s the same damned shock as when she drew my parents this past spring. There’s awe and joy and this ache that hits deep in my gut. I bend forward and rest my joint hands on my knees and stare at the sight in front of me.

Fuck me, my eyes burn. I shut them, attempting to get my shit together. It’s a painting. Only a painting. I reopen them, and it’s the same disorientation as a right hook to the head. It’s more than a painting, and that’s the reason my throat swells.

Last night meant as much to me as it did to her and she painted it, capturing it in a way unique to Echo. She’s right, it’s not done. It’s a skeleton compared to her other work, but I see enough to know what she desires, what she plans to design. Up close all those colors would look like chaos, but when viewed as a whole it creates this beautiful picture. In the end, that’s the best way to describe me and Echo, our relationship. Our love.

The bed dips as Echo eases onto it, settles behind me and props her chin on my shoulder. Her signature scent that reminds me of walking into a bakery becomes an invisible blanket surrounding me. “What do you think?”

“It’s us,” I whisper, and knots form in my stomach. Echo always finds a way to blow my mind. She tenses behind me and I continue, “It’s where we spent last night.”

“It is.” Echo relaxes, and her fingers curl around my biceps. “Do you like it?”

Struggling for composure, I place my hand over hers and pause. “It’s…”

I’m not Echo. I don’t have words for what happens inside me. If I did, I’d fail at describing this. I shift to rest my forehead against hers. “I don’t deserve you.”

“That’s my statement,” she says so only I can hear. “I wish we were alone again.”

I press my lips to hers, slide my hand through her hair and watch as the curls bounce back into place. “Me, too.”

About The Author: Katie McGarry

Find Katie  @ 

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Pinterest | Tumbler | Instagram

Katie McGarry was a teenager during the age of grunge and boy bands and remembers those years as the best and worst of her life. She is a lover of music, happy endings, reality television, and is a secret University of Kentucky basketball fan. 

Katie is the author of full length YA novels, PUSHING THE LIMITS, DARE YOU TO, CRASH INTO YOU, TAKE ME ON,  BREAKING THE RULES, and NOWHERE BUT HERE and the e-novellas, CROSSING THE LINE and RED AT NIGHT. Her debut YA novel, PUSHING THE LIMITS was a 2012 Goodreads Choice Finalist for YA Fiction, a RT Magazine's 2012 Reviewer's Choice Awards Nominee for Young Adult Contemporary Novel, a double Rita Finalist, and a 2013 YALSA Top Ten Teen Pick. DARE YOU TO was also a Goodreads Choice Finalist for YA Fiction and won RT Magazine’s Reviewer’s Choice Best Book Award for Young Adult Contemporary fiction in 2013.

a Rafflecopter giveaway