Did you know that the Friday before Memorial Day is National Road Trip Day? I don't know about you, but I love road trips! I grew up taking road trips across the country with my family, so I guess it's in my blood. And what's the best way to enjoy the hours on the open road? Listening to audiobooks, of course! But listening to audiobooks is definitely not limited to time spent in the car. It's a great way to pass the time while folding laundry, washing the dishes, cooking, etc. There are lots of different ways to access audiobooks, including many free databases. Here is a round-up of various ..read more

We have a traditional in our family of reading a book together at bedtime. Of course, my kids love to read on their own, but there is something about sharing a story together. And I'm not just talking about short little children's books (though I have many that I absolutely adore!). We love to read longer stories aloud-- a chapter or two a night-- and enjoy the journey together. Here are some of our family's favorites so far: The Boxcar Children (series) by Gertrude Chandler Warner These books were a childhood favorite of mine, and now I love reading them with my kids. They are so sweet and ..read more

Did you know that May is the National Get Caught Reading Month? In 1999 the Association of American Publishers founded the Get Caught Reading campaign. Now it is managed by the Every Child a Reader non-profit organization and its purpose is to help educators and librarians inspire a love of reading across America. Now, I don't think any of our readership needs any help developing a love of reading, but surprisingly, literacy in America is still a work in progress in many ways. Here are a couple of interesting stats: 54% of U.S. adults 16–74 years old read below the equivalent of a sixth-grad ..read more

We have so many great authors on My Sweet Romance Books, and today it is my pleasure to introduce you to another one of our favorites: Loranna Hoopes! Meet Loranna Lorana Hoopes is the USA Today best-selling author of over forty books and counting. She's originally from Texas which shows as most of her books are set in the great state. As the saying goes, "You can take the girl out of Texas, but you can't take Texas out of the girl." Lorana began writing at an early age, but it wasn't until a few years ago that she began publishing. Now, it seems she can't get the stories out fast enough. In ..read more

Since we are all book lovers here, I thought it would be fun to start giving a shout out to books on my own reading list from time to time. I will share a new book idea about every 6 weeks or so and would love to hear other recommendations from you guys! I love a good historical fiction book about real events from history, and I've had my eye on this book for a while now. This Saturday, April 15, 2023, marks the 111th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, and is rightfully dubbed as National Titanic Remembrance Day. To honor this day, the lives that were lost, and the many heroes that eme ..read more

Spring is here, the snow has (mostly) melted, the sun is shining, and its spring break season. Travel is on my mind. While my family usually doesn't take a big vacation for spring break, we love to get out and adventure by exploring museums, parks, and other things nearby. If you're like me and have young kids that make it difficult to travel, or not enough funds, there are many ways to still "get out" and explore the world. During the first few months of the pandemic, when everything was still shut down, school had shifted to distance learning, and it was still pretty cold outside, my family ..read more

According to the calendar, it's been spring for over a week now, but here in Minnesota, it's still pretty chilly outside. Yet, the snow is melting, the sun is shining more, and air is ripe with sounds of bird chirping and singing. I can't wait to go on bike rides, plant my garden, and see all the new tree buds and flowers blooming. Spring is such a hopeful, cheerful time of year, full of new beginnings and second chances. So, whether you have a case of spring fever and need a little boost, or spring is well under way in your neck of the woods, here is a round-up of Springtime and Second-Chance ..read more

In honor of National Tolkien Reading Day, here are ten fun facts you may or may not have heard about the author who created one of the most beloved stories of all time. 1. His family called him Ronald. 2. His mother introduced him to the basics of Latin before he even started school, which was part of the foundation of his love for languages. 3. He was orphaned at the age of 11, and Father Francis Xavier Morgan was appointed as guardian to him and his older brother. 4. Tolkien and his wife Edith have a great love story. They met when he was 16 and she was 19 and fell in love, but Father Franc ..read more

Introducing the winner of our International Women's Day giveaway, author Havelah McLat! About Havelah Havelah McLat grew up on a small farm in rural Ohio with her family. They live on a farm with cows, goats, cats, ducks, dogs, and a lot of chickens. As a kid, she spent a lot of time drawing characters and animals. When she was thirteen and saw her older sister writing a story, she wanted to be like her, a writer. She started off writing fan stories like Tinker Bell to go with her own fairy characters. During the summer of 2011, she wrote her first original short story about a basilisk lizard ..read more

Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe- a classic literary couple from the beloved series Anne of Green Gables. Last week, I shared why these books hold a special place in my heart. Today, I want to explore some things we learn about love from the story of Anne and Gilbert. Granted, there is much more to the Anne of Green Gables story than just the romance between Anne and Gilbert, but to me, their slowly budding and blossoming relationship is one of the most romantic of all. The Story of Anne and Gilbert **SPOILER ALERT! I am going to write out the details of Anne and Gilbert's story. If you want to ..read more