Top Ten Tuesday: "Gateway" Books/Authors In My Reading Journey 

(so your list could be a mix of a books that got you into reading, an author that got you into reading a genre you never thought you'd read, a book that brought you BACK into read)

brought to you by the broke and the bookish

Jeni's Picks:

1. Judy Blume got me addicted to reading to when I was young.. I loved fudge. My kids aren't fans which makes me sad but I will always remember these books

2. Mary Higgins Clark: My grandma introduced me to her writing when I was 14. I read everything she wrote. I'm not so much a fan now because she follows a pattern and it makes the books too predicable now but when I was 14-18 they were so much fun. 

3. Stephenie Meyer: I was an avid reader until I had kids. So I took a 6 year hiatus from reading. I just never had the time and if I did read it was about how to raise my kids. I remember my son was 2 and my husband and I went on a trip. My friend loaned me  her 1st book and I finished it on the plane. I had my husband take me to a bookstore to buy the rest. The movies and hype over these books has ruined them for me now. But I just remember being so excited to read again. 

4. Lisa Mangum: I was always a mystery/lawyer topic book reader when I was a teenager and Lisa Mangum introduced me to time travel novels. I loved her Hourglass door series. Ruby Red is my favorite time travel series to date but I thank Lisa Mangum for getting me to read outside my normal genre. 

5. Rick Riordan/ Brandon Mull: I read a little bit of everything now but these two authors got me to read middlegrade age books and actually love them. Now I can read these series with my kids and I appreciate the fact that I'm not bored. Jennifer Neilsen is another great middle grade age book author. 

Emily's Picks

1. L.M. Montgomery, Emily Of New Moon.  I read this before any of her Anne Of Greene Gables.  And I must say, I loved it better for it.  It was my first book I ever owned.  It still sits on my shelf. This was the first book that made me want to delve deeper into reading.

2. Robin Mckinley .  She was the first fantasy author I read.  And I wanted more. I still curl up and read The Blue Sword and The Hero and the Crown.

3. Barbara Michaels introduced me to the modern gothic story. And she gave me chills. And taught to me sleep with the lights on. 

4. Victoria Holt I haven't read this type of novel in a long time..romance with a gothic twist. But every once in a while, I will read her or another author like her again.  They are fun, and they take themselves very seriously, which makes the fluff in them all the more entertaining really.

5. Patricia Briggs I never considered myself a werewolf or vampire girl, but then I found Ms. Briggs.  And she  gave me excitment, romance, lor, and a female character who could take care of herself.  Love it, and I enjoy any book like it.