My Reading-Journey Story

When I was a child, I loved books. I remember my mom reading Berenstain Bears books to me as well as many others. I still remember the voice she used for Mama. 

I remember enjoying the elementary school library where I had my first introduction to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl and of course many others.

I didn't have much access to my small town's public library as we lived outside of town so I only remember going to it a few times. I did, however, devour school library books throughout elementary school and middle school and part of high school.

My mom introduced me to Agatha Christie books and I would always take them to read when we went on vacation. I loved Agatha Christie.

As happens with some people, books became less fun for me when certain ones were assigned in high school. No offense to the those Charles Dickens fans out there but I did not like A Tale of Two Cities and it's possible I didn't even finish it.

So in high school and college, I was less of a book worm.

After I got married and started having children, I discovered my love of books again. My husband and I read to our children when they were young and since he also loves reading, it's no surprise that all of our children developed a love of books.

For many years I loved mysteries with a hint of romance or other genres with a hint of romance. I was wary of anything in the "romance" genre because I was worried about content. My high school friends understood if I asked if something was "Kristin appropriate." I didn't like being exposed to foul language or crude/inappropriate jokes.

Then years ago I was introduced to a new genre of "clean romance" books. I read Julianne Donaldson's book, Edenbrooke, and loved how the main characters became friends before realizing their love for each other, probably because it echoed my own love story with my husband. 

I read some other books from time to time like that, including Seeking Persephone by Sarah M. Eden, so many years later when they announced they wanted to make a movie of it, I jumped at the chance to support the project and I was not disappointed with the result.

In the last few years, I've grown to love clean romances more than I did those many years ago. There are so many books out there that are "Kristin appropriate." I'm grateful for the authors who write them.

I've become more of a book worm again and have enjoyed getting into lot of different types, not just clean romances. I even have some cookbooks based on books.

I've gotten involved with book clubs, library programs, author events.

Sometimes I do them on my own, sometimes I drag family members with me. We all get involved in Summer Reading programs with local libraries.

I've learned how great it is to interact with authors and learned to value supporting them in different ways, whether that's taking a look at a Timmy Termite book for Stephanie Goodman to give my opinion before it's published or posting on social media over and over about how much I love A Lady's Guide to Love and Pirates by Jennifer Moore.

It's been quite a reading journey getting to where I am but it has been good for me and I can genuinely say I LOVE BOOKS!   

Celebrating and Observed

September 20 was National Punch Day, National Pepperoni Pizza Day, National String Cheese Day, National Fried Rice Day, and National Care for Kids Day.

I nicely abandoned my children to work on my literacy activity for the day. I made them make pepperoni pizza while I was gone. Someone may have eaten string cheese that day but for sure the day after. Nobody attempted to make fried rice anytime around that holiday. The kids made punch the next day because they forgot to on the 20th. 

But I did read a book where there was punching happening.

And I did do the literacy activity with Jet.

 

The literacy activities for adult and children's calendars from Shadow Mountain Publishing for National Literacy Month for the few days around that time were:

 

September 20 Read somewhere new

Read before bedtime

 

September 21 Recommend a book to someone

Find a book about adventure

 

September 22 Enter the adult book giveaway!

Let your child "read" the pictures 

 

Part of my abandoning my children was so I could read more of A Lady's Guide to Love and Pirates for a few hours so I could finish it in time for The Proper Romance Book Club event on September 22.

I finished it on the 21st. Woohoo.

I'm grateful I did. September 21 was World Gratitude Day.

I also went around singing, "Do you remember the 21st night of September?"

 

Since A Lady's Guide to Love and Pirates is my favorite book I've read this year (and I've read it twice), I was excited about the book club to learn more from the author, Jennifer Moore. 

It took place on the first day of Fall. We have some Fall colors around, especially up in the mountains.

I had plenty to contribute during book club because I love that book so much. 

Often with this book club, the authors will add little behind the scenes info throughout the month about their book then there is an online event at the end of the month to listen to the author and host discuss things and comment in the chat. Those that comment are added into the drawing for a book. That's how I won When You Rescued Me by Sian Ann Bessey the end of last month.

This month was a little different. Jennifer Moore took us on a treasure hunt with clues to answer throughout the month. I loved it! Those that got them all right were entered to win a special prize.

Guess what. I won! I won the book, Pirateology. I'm excited to explore it with my family.

They also had the regular drawing for a book based on comments throughout the month and from the book club event.

I've been enjoying book clubs this year and reading challenges.

Talk Like a Pirate Day 2026

September 19 was International Talk Like a Pirate Day. We love that holiday.

The day started off with me finishing the audiobook of Wendy's Ever After by Julie Wright. Definitely pirates in that book.

Then the three oldest, my husband, and I watched a little bit of Pirates of the Caribbean movie until the younger kids woke up and we turned it off. I did wear my pirate ship necklace, though. And the lipstick color I put on was called Rum. Hee hee hee.

Some kids set the language to "Pirate" on Minecraft while they were playing.

We continued with National Literacy Month using Shadow Mountain Publishing's calendars of literacy activities (adult and children's calendars). 

 

Donate a book

Share a reading photo on social media (use our #)

 

While donating a book to the library, I checked out a book about pirates to read to my youngest.

I continued my rereading of A Lady's Guide to Love and Pirates by Jennifer Moore.

Jet wanted to get a picture, too. 

While I was out running errands, I listened to the soundtrack of Muppet Treasure Island.

For dinner I told a story about a pirate ship carrying dinosaurs. Then giant squid pup monsters came from the sea and attacked, wrapping around the dinosaurs. There was red fluid everywhere.

One of my dinosaurs got away and my youngest let me know two of his pteranodons attacked and pulled a squid pup.

After dinner a few of us followed the youngest on a treasure hunt with a treasure map he painted. We followed it to where "X marks the spot." We uncovered a treasure chest (mini cooler) filled with treasure. Donettes!

We had fun celebrating Talk Like a Pirate Day. It's nice we had more time that day since it was a Saturday so we were able to do some things we don't always get to. 

Favorite Book I've Read This Year

 

Every once in a while, I come across a book that I love so much that as soon as I finish it, I immediately want to start reading it again. A Lady's Guide to Love and Pirates by Jennifer Moore was such a book for me.

I've read plenty of wonderful books this year, but this has been my favorite. So much excitement, adventure, danger, a claustrophobic scene that I felt along with the character, and of course a sweet love story.

I absolutely would recommend this book and I have a few times already.

Thanks, Jenny, for writing this. I love many of your books but this one is my favorite.