First Book of The Year 2014...

It's funny sometimes how we bloggers discover books, other blogs, meet new bloggers, meet other readers, new authors, publishers and other bookish people. I was reading a post from Vasilly of 1330v ~ Thoughts of an eclectic reader about her first read of the year and how it could almost set the tone of the whole year. I thought this was interesting as I never really thought about "the first" book of the year.     So, how am I going to set the tone of my reading year? I definitely have plenty of books to read, but now I am feeling the pressure of making the right choice!

All this talk about first books really started when Vasilly visited Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila asked readers on her blog what their first read of the year would be and created a link for everyone to enter their posts or photos of what the book would be…

OK, so I am stepping out of the box just a bit. I'm going to read The Unwelcomed Child by V.C. Andrews. It's a new book coming out by the same author who wrote the horror novel Flowers in The Attic. I remember being being so wrapped up in Flowers in The Attic, and unable to put it down. It has been years, probably over 20 years since I read it and it still stirs up feelings of dread. I am so excited to read an author I haven't read in years and whose books I use to love. It's stepping out of the box a bit because I haven't read any horror in years. This copy of The Unwelcomed Child is a review copy courtesy of Pocket Books, so it's not out on the shelves until Jan. 21, but here's the teaser from the publisher…

My mother had looked into the face of evil so many times she knew what it was. It was me. I was born without a soul. . . .

Elle Edwards grew up believing that because of her mother’s sinful ways she was born without a soul; that’s why she was abandoned and left in the care of Grandmother Myra and Grandfather Prescott, who try to ensure her evil will not infect them—by raising her in a virtual prison. Because her days are occupied with homeschooling, strict religious studies, and vigorous housekeeping in their upstate New York home, Elle knows practically nothing of the outside world, even as she emerges as a young woman with impressive artistic talent. But when she makes a secret, forbidden connection to vacationers at the nearby lake—a handsome boy and his precocious twin sister—Elle’s world will shatter. Will  discovering the truths about her past send her future plummeting to hell?

Hmmm, I wonder what tone I'm setting by reading a horror novel first?! :-) I guess we'll just have to see what the rest of the year brings. In the meantime, I'm going to start to record my "first reads" of the year. I love the idea of putting some thought into picking out the first book you'll read for the year. How about you? What's your first book going to be for the year? Want to participate in The First Book of the Year 2014? Here's the link to the Book Journey and what it's all about.