Follow Friday #3 and Book Blogger Hop #1

Q. Talk about the book that most changed or influenced your life (was it a book that turned you from an average to avid reader, did it help you deal with a particularly difficult situation, does it bring you comfort every time you read it?). 

I love this question. When I was in high school, I read a lot of John Grisham. I loved his mysteries; however, as time went by and I was no longer living with mom and dad, and started paying my own bills, going to college...well, you get it, the things adults do...I didn't have time to read anymore. Then I had kids...and well, most of you know how that goes. 

I have seen this answer on a couple of other blogs, but I am answering the question honestly so...while at work, some ladies were talking about Twilight by Stephanie Meyer. At first I thought - no, vampires have never really been my thing. But the more I heard about the books, the more I thought...ok, I am going to read the first book at least. And then, I couldn't put them down. I was thankful that I was late into the series, so I didn't have to wait for the next one to come out. I read them in a week. Couldn't put them down. And then my oldest daughter read them and it gave us something fun to talk about. She would get so mad at me because I refused to tell her anything about the books...I just kept saying "Just read it." And as Amber at Me,My Shelf, and I said I don't want to hear that the books were poorly written or that there's no such thing as sparkly vampires because unless you have irrefutable evidence to the contrary...all vampires are fictional. 

And I haven't stopped reading since.

Even now, when I am depressed, upset or sad, I will reread The Twilight Saga because they bring me comfort and take me to a place other than the - all to many times - crazy place I live.

 So...how about you?

Q: What ARC would you like to get your hands on right now?

The first book in Richelle Mead's brand-new teen fiction series - set in the same world as Vampire Academy.

When alchemist Sydney is ordered into hiding to protect the life of Moroi princess Jill Dragomir, the last place she expects to be sent is a human private school in Palm Springs, California. But at their new school, the drama is only just beginning.

Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Bloodlines explores all the friendship, romance, battles and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive - this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone's out for blood.

To be released August 23, 2011, so I suppose I will just have to wait. LOL!