Good Reads

Reading is a pretty big deal in our house. We read every night to Marcus before bed, and when I can sneak in some quiet time I can be found buried in a book.

Lately I've come across a few great reads that I feel compelled to share with my fellow book lovers.

Let's start with what we're reading Marcus these days:

Momma Don't You Worry - Louie Lawent (currently available for $1.29 on Kindle)// A little boy who is almost 6 years old believes he is too old to hold his mommy's hand when he goes out into public. The book illustrates how the little boy works through the situation.
While Marcus isn't 6, he does often think he is too big to hold my hand when we cross the street, are in a parking lot, or in a crowded venue. This cute book full of rhymes really kept his attention and I even caught a few smiles while we were reading. We'll be keeping this one in our rotation for a long time to come.

Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? - Dr. Seuss // A fan favorite in our house. Dr. Seuss never disappoints. The rhymes, the silly sounds, the quirky pictures, it's just as entertaining for Marcus to listen as it is for me to read.

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie - Laura Joffe Numeroff // Marcus cannot get enough of the "If You Give a ____ a ____" books. The silly story that start off with a cookie and lead the mouse to fun adventures, and back again to the cookie, have Marcus asking for these books to be read nightly.

Moving along to book recommendations for audiences over the age of 13, and books perfect for your next book club:

 The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern // History, mystery, magic, drama, and love all majestically wound into a book I simply could not put down. Books about magic are not my typical kind of reads, but this one drew me in and wouldn't release me until the last word on the last page was read.
Amazon synapses: The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night. 

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway: a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them both, this is a game in which only one can be left standing. Despite the high stakes, Celia and Marco soon tumble headfirst into love, setting off a domino effect of dangerous consequences, and leaving the lives of everyone, from the performers to the patrons, hanging in the balance.

An Invisible Thread - Laura Schroff and Alex Tresniowski // This unbelievably beautiful, true story, of how an unlikely relationship forms in New York City between a sales executive and 11-year panhandling boy wrapped me up and held tight until the very end. The pain, sadness, triumph, and love had my emotions all over the spectrum. There were even tears. Real tears.
Amazon synapses: This story tells of the life-long friendship between a busy sales executive and a disadvantaged young boy, and how both of their lives were changed by what began as one small gesture of kindness.

Stopping was never part of the plan...

She was a successful ad sales rep in Manhattan. He was a homeless, eleven-year-old panhandler on the street. He asked for spare change; she kept walking. But then something stopped her in her tracks, and she went back. And she continued to go back, again and again. They met up nearly every week for years and built an unexpected, life-changing friendship that has today spanned almost three decades.

Whatever made me notice him on that street corner so many years ago is clearly something that cannot be extinguished, no matter how relentless the forces aligned against it. Some may call it spirit. Some may call it heart. It drew me to him, as if we were bound by some invisible, unbreakable thread. And whatever it is, it binds us still.

Becoming Us - Amy Daws // I've mentioned before my best friend in all the land is a published author. Her first fiction book, A Broken Us, left me feeling like I knew her characters. It was as if I was in the story, part of the story. I had real feeling about the characters, and when the book was over I was sad to see it end. To my delight Amy has released her second book (it's actually the prequel to A Broken Us)in the London Lover series, Becoming Us, and I am about to dive head first into it. I know the characters will pull me in and I won't be able to shake them until their story concludes. 

If you love yourself some good chick lit I know this one will not disappoint. 

Amazon synapses: The dreaded friend-zone... 

The last place I ever want to be with college basketball God, Jake LaShae. 
I am losing my mind trying to figure out what this gorgeous and confident man wants from me. I need to break through his walls. What is it about me that makes him not go there? What am I lacking? 
When a mind-blowing betrayal knocks the wind out of me, and I think I can't feel any lower...Brody stumbles into my path—barefoot no less, and sexy as hell. His direct and mouth-watering swagger is a breath of fresh air. The feelings this man gives me are like nothing I've ever experienced. 
But Brody has a past. 
A past that makes it nearly impossible for him to trust me and let us become us in whatever capacity that may be. 
Just when Brody and I truly connect, just when I think that finding my soul-mate in college isn't a total joke, Jake comes back into my life…and messes things up…possibly for good.

And there you have it. A few books to add to your littles collection, as well as your own.

Now tell me, what are some other books that I need to add to my ever growing "must read" list?

Disclaimer: I received an e-copy of Momma Don't You Worry in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.