Since I know that the people who read my blog love books, I’m interviewing a book blogger each month so you can meet other book lovers and book reviewers. Many of these I have met on Goodreads, especially the Love Inspired Historical Authors Group there. Here’s February’s blogger interview by Brittany of “Britt Reads Fiction!” (BTW, read to the end for Brittany’s giveaway link.)

1-Who are your favorite authors?

I began to list my favorite authors by the types of books they write and there were just too many! I also knew I was bound to leave someone off and then feel terrible about it! So, I must instead state that although I do have some very favorite authors, whose books I always make sure to read, I am constantly looking for new-to-me authors. I love reading a book by an author who I have not read before, and discovering that they write beautiful stories. It is so fun to then go find their other books!

2-What kind of book is the one you look for in bookstores and online?

If I know I have enjoyed books by the author before, I am usually quick to pick up their next book. However, I have found so many new authors this year that I enjoy. In reading book blurbs or reviews, I am looking for stories that really catch at my heart, those stories that put two people into situations where they have obstacles to overcome in order to fall in love. I am a sucker for marriage of convenience stories or books that have a hero come back into town years later after he left and broke someone’s heart.

3-What prompted you to start a book blogging site?

I have loved reading all of my life. There was a period of time when my oldest two children were little, that I only read non-fiction books and magazines. I felt I had a lot to learn about childrearing, homeschooling, etc. and my free time was spent with those books.

A few years ago, I began reading fiction again and was introduced to a whole new world of Christian fiction. It had changed quite a bit in those years that I had been away and I really was not familiar with the different authors. I began reading more and more, but had not ever thought about writing a review of a book. It just didn’t occur to me that I should!

Then, about a year ago, I got sick with a virus that kept me in bed a few days. I had a stack of books and my kindle ebooks and just read and read. After a while, I began perusing the internet and discovered various authors’ web pages and facebook pages. I joined up on these pages and started connecting with authors over the next few months. This, in fact, introduced me to even more authors and I learned how important reviews are to authors.

It made me realize that authors work very hard on their books and a way we can help spread the word about their books is through reviews. I also wanted to help readers decide which books they might like. I learned of Goodreads and NetGalley and eventually started my blog in order to receive books for the purpose of reading and reviewing them. I have had so much fun with it. I do book reviews and occasional book giveaways. This month I am doing one giveaway a week for the romantic month of February.

4-Tell us a bit about yourself.

I am a homeschooling mom of four children. They range in age from 5 years to 13 years and I truly love getting to spend time teaching them. We do all of our teaching in the early portion of the day and they finish up any assignments in the afternoon. I am able then to squeeze in some personal reading time for myself. I also make sure to always have a book with me when I take my kids out to the other activities and classes that they take outside of the home. I am blessed to be married to my high school sweetheart, who has always been very supportive of my desire to be home with the kids.

I love reading so many different types of Christian fiction (but am not really into futuristic or paranormal). I love historical fiction.  In that historical fiction category, I read a wide range, from westerns to Regency England, early American to Civil War! I also enjoy contemporary romance and contemporary romance with suspense! I even enjoy military themed fiction. Amish has also been a favorite genre of mine, as well. I enjoy the wide variety of places and people that I can learn about in all of these books.

All month I am having giveaways on my blog and this week, Anita Higman is giving away two copies of A Marriage in Middlebury. This is the link.