2013 is over.
I have read 201 books of varied length, all in all, approximately 59452 pages in 2013.
I have taken part in 36 Reading challenges and completed 35 of these - the last one just disappeared off the internet and I couldn't find it again.
It has been a lot of interesting challenges and I am going to take part in some of the same again but also a few new ones. At this point I have joined 20 challenges for 2014 and I am continuing 7 that hasn't finished yet. But I think there might be a few more yearly challenges I want to join + the usual shorter ones that pop up during the year.
Most of the challenges I take part in I find at either A Novel Challenge or from 2 groups on Goodreads. Crazy Challenge Connection and Nothing but Reading Challenges.
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
December 2013 Update
December has been a slow reading month for me. I have read 14 books but they have mostly been shorter books so I have read only 3525 pages.
My Decemember books:
- The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks
- Winter Warmers by Carole Matthews
- While Snowbound by Anna J. McIntyre
- Red Shift by Alan Garner
- Wish Upon A Star by Trisha Ashley
- Tethers by Jack Croxall
- Sleigh Bells in the Snow by Sarah Morgan
- The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle
- Gears of Wonderland by Jason G. Anderson
- All I Want for Christmas is You by Lisa Mondello
- Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews
- Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks
- A Cowboy For Christmas by Kristen James
- The Santa Shop by Tim Greaton
Crazy Challenge Connection RaT #19 Update
Crazy Challenge Connection RaT #19 hosted by Crazy Challenge Connection on Goodreads.
My goal was to read 3 books in total and I have already reached this goal.
My goal was to read 3 books in total and I have already reached this goal.
- Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks - finished 30th of December 2013
- A Cowboy For Christmas by Kristen James - finished 30th of December 2013
- The Santa Shop by Tim Greaton finished 31st of December 2013
Reading Challenge Addict 2013 Finished
Reading Challenge Addict 2013.
Some of us have a bit of a problem. Some of us have a huge problem. Cheryl from CMash Loves to Read and Gina from Hott Books are two such people. And they are the founding mothers of the Reading Challenge Addict Blog. Bev from My Reader's Block is one with a HUGE problem and the current author and caretaker of the Blog. We each can stand proudly and say,
There will be random prizes and recognition for those who are meeting their own expectations by completing the challenges they've entered.
How addicted are you?
My goal this year was Out of This World: 16+ Challenges (Entered & Completed)
I have more than succeeded this year as I have joined, all in all, 36 Reading challenges and, of these, I have completed 35.
This is my list of the challenges I have joined.
Some of us have a bit of a problem. Some of us have a huge problem. Cheryl from CMash Loves to Read and Gina from Hott Books are two such people. And they are the founding mothers of the Reading Challenge Addict Blog. Bev from My Reader's Block is one with a HUGE problem and the current author and caretaker of the Blog. We each can stand proudly and say,
I am a Reading Challenge Addict.
So we are challenging each of you who can also say that you also are a Reading Challenge Addict.There will be random prizes and recognition for those who are meeting their own expectations by completing the challenges they've entered.
How addicted are you?
- Easy as Pie: 1-5 Challenges (Entered & Completed)
- On the Roof: 6-10 Challenges (Entered & Completed)
- In Flight: 11-15 Challenges (Entered & Completed)
- Out of This World: 16+ Challenges (Entered & Completed)
Rules:
We're not making this a difficult challenge, actually, it's going to be very simple!
- The newest edition of the challenge will begin on January 1 and end on December 31, 2013.
- Write a starting post joining the challenge and outlining your challenges.
- Track all of your challenge accomplishments - good & bad.
- Stop by to join us in the mini-challenges, updates & extra giveaways throughout the year.
- Comment like crazy and offer support for your fellow addicts.
- Have FUN!
My goal this year was Out of This World: 16+ Challenges (Entered & Completed)
I have more than succeeded this year as I have joined, all in all, 36 Reading challenges and, of these, I have completed 35.
This is my list of the challenges I have joined.
- 2013 Anne Rice Challenge (finished 23/11-13)
- 2013 Audio Book Challenge (finished 24/11-13)
- 2013 A-Z Reading Challenge (finished 25/11-13)
- 2013 Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge Cancelled
- 2013 Ebook Challenge (finished 24/11-13)
- 2013 Literary Exploration Reading Challenge (finished 24/11-13)
- 2013 Mythology Challenge. (finished 23/11-13)
- 2013 Nicholas Sparks Reading Challenge (finished 31/12-13)
- 2013 Paranormal Reading Challenge (finished 24/12-13)
- 2013 Sequel Reading Challenge (finished 23/11-13)
- 2013 Why Buy the Cow? Reading Challenge (finished 23/11-13)
- 2013 Witches & Witchcraft Reading Challenge (finished 24/11-13)
- 2013 Women Challenge (finished 05/03-13)
- Dystopia Reading Challenge 2013 (finished 23/11-13)
- Finishing the Series Reading Challenge 2013 (finished 28/04-13)
- Get Steampunk’d 2013 (finished 27/12-13)
- Let Me Count the Ways Reading Challenge 2013 (finished 10/03-13)
- Quick fix Challenge 2013 (finished 05/03-13)
- Reading Challenge Addict 2013
- TEA & BOOKS Reading Challenge 2013 (finished 23/11-13)
- Goodreads 2013 Reading Challenge (finished 31/12-13)
- Tower Teams Read 2013 (finished 24/11-13)
- Level 1 of the Serious Readers Challenge for 2013 (finished 31/12-13)
- 2013 1st In A Series Challenge (finished 23/11-13)
- 2013 Mammoth Book Challenge (finished 23/11-13)
- A Winter's Respite (finished 27/01-13)
- Dewey's Read-a-Thon April 2013 (finished 28/04-13)
- Spring into Horror Read-a-Thon (finished 28/04-13)
- High Summer Read-a-Thon July 22-28 (finished 28/05-13)
- Beat the Heat Readathon (finished 18/08-13)
- Bout of Books Read-a-Thon 8.0 (finished 25/08-13)
- September 2013 Takeover Challenge (finished 30/09-13)
- FrightFall Read-a-Thon 2013 (finished 07/10-13)
- Dewey's Read-a-Thon October 2013 (finished 13/10-13)
- The Christmas Spirit Read-a-Thon November 22 - 24 (finished 24/11-13)
- Crazy Challenge Connection RaT #18 (finished 04/12-13)
- A Book A Day Keeps the Boredom at Bay Reading Challenge (finished 05/12-13)
Goodreads 2013 Reading Challenge Finished
Goodreads 2013 Reading Challenge.
This is just a brilliant challenge. It is personal so you just set it to the amount of books you think you are going to read in 2013 and you can change the total at any time.
Goodreads is where I will record all books I read and that includes short stories of only a few pages. Everything I read will be part of this challenge.
My goal at the beginning of the year was 130 books but I have read 201 all in all.
THIS is my Goodreads bookshelf of books read
List of books:
This is just a brilliant challenge. It is personal so you just set it to the amount of books you think you are going to read in 2013 and you can change the total at any time.
Goodreads is where I will record all books I read and that includes short stories of only a few pages. Everything I read will be part of this challenge.
My goal at the beginning of the year was 130 books but I have read 201 all in all.
THIS is my Goodreads bookshelf of books read
List of books:
- The Ghost Brigades by John Scalzi
- Moon dance by J.R. Rain
- Sterling by Dannika Dark
- A Nomadic Witch by Debora Geary
- The Sagan Diary by John Scalzi
- Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China by Jung Chang
- To Have and To Code by Debora Geary
- De Novo Syndrome by Jim Buckner, David Mark Brown
- The Scourge by A.G. Henley
- The Dog Stars by Peter Heller
- Dogs Don't Lie by Clea Simon
- Legend of the White Dragon: Legends by Melanie Nilles
- Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder
- The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
- My Familiar Stranger by Victoria Danann
- Shadowmagic by John Lenahan
- Deadly Legacy by Alison Bruce
- Vampire Moon by J.R. Rain
- Exclusively Yours by Shannon Stace
- A Different Witch by Debora Geary
- Twist by Dannika Dark
- Cross My Heart by Abigail Strom
- Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder
- Magic Study by Maria V. Snyder
- Become by Ali Cross
- Always the Designer, Never the Bride by Sandra D. Bricker
- Old Before My Time: Hayley Okines' Life with Progeria by Hayley Okines, Kerry Okines, Alison Stokes
- Winging It! by Shel Delisle
- Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
- Skellig by David Almond
- Winter's Passage by Julie Kagawa
- The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa
- The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa
- Summer's Crossing by Julie Kagawa
- Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi
- The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson
- The House at Pooh Corner by A.A. Milne
- Witches on Parole by Debora Geary
- Witches under Way by Debora Geary
- Witches in Flight by Debora Geary
- American Vampire by J.R. Rain
- Fire Study by Maria V. Snyder
- Amityville Horrible by Kelley Armstrong
- Worm: The First Digital World War by Mark Bowden
- Tales of the Otherworld by Kelley Armstrong
- The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks
- Stained by Ella James
- Lady of Devices by Shelley Adina
- Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs
- Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper
- A Celtic Witch by Debora Geary
- Wise Follies by Grace Wynne-Jones
- Wait For Me by Elisabeth Naughton
- Goddess Legacy by M.W. Muse
- Amy's Story by D'Elen McClain
- Manhattan Grimoire by Sandy DeLuca
- Hollowland by Amanda Hocking
- Marked by Kim Richardson
- For a Good Time, Call... by Trish Jensen
- American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
- Swordfights & Lullabies by Debora Geary
- Endlessly by Kiersten White
- Every Witch Way But Wicked
- The Hunt by Joseph Williams
- Virtual Evil by Jana Oliver
- WLT: A Radio Romance by Garrison Keillor
- Queen Of Sorcery by David Eddings
- Magician's Gambit by David Eddings
- Castle of Wizardry by David Eddings
- The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury
- Enchanters' End Game by David Eddings
- Just Doll by Janice Daugharty
- The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
- Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice
- The Last Colony by John Scalzi
- The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
- Frostbitten by Kelley Armstrong
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
- Zoe's Tale by John Scalzi
- Sharpe's Prey by Bernard Cornwell
- Merrick by Anne Rice
- Guards! Guards!: by Terry Pratchett
- The Light Within Me by Carly Fall
- All Summer Long by Susan Mallery
- Athena the Brain by Joan Holub
- Zombacter: Center City Contagion by Sean Bingham
- Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch
- Waking Up Married by Mira Lyn Kelly
- Persephone the Phony by Joan Holub
- Alone by Robert J. Crane
- Chocolate Shoes And Wedding Blues by Trisha Ashley
- Alice in Zombieland by Nickolas Cook
- World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks
- The Dead Girls' Dance by Rachel Caine
- The Case of the Flashing Fashion Queen by Norah Wilson
- Origins by Kristen Middleton
- Mr Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
- The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
- Her Own Devices by Shelley Adina
- The Long Midnight Of Barney Thomson by Douglas Lindsay
- Amethyst by Heather Bowhay
- A Lost Witch by Debora Geary
- To Kill a Warlock by H.P. Mallory
- Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb
- Moon Child by J.R. Rain
- Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
- Daughter of Dragons by Kathleen H. Nelson
- A Kestrel for a Knave by Barry Hines
- Witch Way Bends by Olivia Hardin
- Cursed by Casey Odell
- Frey by Melissa Wright
- Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson
- Déjà Dead by Kathy Reichs
- Magnificent Devices by Shelley Adina
- Drowning Mermaids by Nadia Scrieva
- Eternal Vows by Chrissy Peebles
- Between the Land and the Sea by Derrolyn Anderson
- The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel by Deborah Moggach
- The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa
- Fins by Ashley L. Knight
- I Bring the Fire: Part I Wolves by C. Gockel
- Life of Pi by Yann Martel
- Unwind by Neal Shusterman
- Dorothy: The Darker Side of Oz by Scott Stanford
- Watership Down by Richard Adams
- Fathom by Ashley L. Knight
- Everblue by Brenda Pandos
- The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice
- The Weirdstone Of Brisingamen by Alan Garner
- One Glass Is Never Enough by Jane Wenham-Jones
- The Owl Service by Alan Garner
- Bitten Shame by Olivia Hardin
- The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler
- Shifty Business by Olivia Hardin
- Percy Jackson and the Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan
- Vegan, Virgin, Valentine by Carolyn Mackler
- Firelight by Sophie Jordan
- Æsel by Kristna Stoltz
- Necrophobia by Jack Hamlyn
- Dreams Underfoot: The Newford Collection by Charles de Lint
- Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey
- The Dragon Reborn by Kathleen H. Nelson
- The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan
- Dollhouse by Anya Allyn
- The Queen of the Damned by Anne Rice
- The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan
- DRT by Eric Thomas
- Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble by H.P. Mallory
- The Witching Hour by Anne Rice
- The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan
- To Love a Witch by Debora Geary
- An Imperfect Witch by Debora Geary
- WitchLove by Emma Mills
- Batman: The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller
- When We Were Very Young by A.A. Milne
- The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks
- How (Not) to Kiss a Toad by Elizabeth A. Reeves
- XBestia by Melissa Conway
- Good Husband Material by Trisha Ashley
- Matchmakers 2.0 by Debora Geary
- Eye of the Needle by Ken Follett
- Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
- Wyrd Girl by Jon Jacks
- How (Not) to Kiss a Prince by Elizabeth A. Reeves
- How (Not) to Kiss a Beast by Elizabeth A. Reeves
- How (Not) to Kiss a Ghost by Elizabeth A. Reeves
- Percy Jackson and the Sword of Hades by Rick Riordan / Groovy Greeks by Terry Deary, Martin Brown
- The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan
- UnStrung by Neal Shusterman
- The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan
- How (Not) to Kiss a Gargoyle by Elizabeth A. Reeves
- Vampires: The Recent Undead by Paula Guran (Editor)
- Leopard Moon by Jeanette Battista
- The Moon Of Gomrath by Alan Garner
- Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews
- Elidor by Alan Garner
- Magic Burns by Ilona Andrews
- Titus Groan by Mervyn Peake
- Burning Chrome by William Gibson
- Playing for Time by Barbara Bretton
- The House of Hades by Rick Riordan
- Yule Be Mine by Charlene Teglia
- The Colorado Kid by Stephen King
- Ønskebarnet by Eddie Thomas Petersen
- Buried Child by Sam Shepard
- Åndeløs by Cliff McNish
- Steam & Sorcery by Cindy Spencer
- The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks
- Winter Warmers by Carole Matthews
- While Snowbound by Anna J. McIntyre
- Red Shift by Alan Garner
- Wish Upon A Star by Trisha Ashley
- Tethers by Jack Croxall
- Sleigh Bells in the Snow by Sarah Morgan
- The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle
- Gears of Wonderland by Jason G. Anderson
- All I Want for Christmas is You by Lisa Mondello
- Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews
- Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks
- A Cowboy For Christmas by Kristen James
- The Santa Shop by Tim Greaton
2013 Nicholas Sparks Reading Challenge Finished
2013 Nicholas Sparks Reading Challenge hosted by The Book Vixen.
Reading Challenge Details:
Runs January 1, 2013 – December 31, 2013 (books read prior to 1/1/2013 do not count towards the challenge). You can join at anytime. Sign up on The Book Vixen’s blog.
The goal is to read or re-read as many Nicholas Sparks novels as you’d like. See the different levels below and pick the one that works best for you. You can move up a level as often as you’d like but no moving down.
Books can be any format (bound, ebook, audio).
You can list your books in advance or list them as you read them. It is not required that you review the books you read for this challenge but feel free to do so.
Re-reads and crossovers from other reading challenges are allowed.
Grab the reading challenge button and post this reading challenge on your blog to track your progress. Please include a link back to this sign-up post so others can join the reading challenge too. You do not have to be a book blogger to participate; you can track your progress on Goodreads or LibraryThing.
Levels:
First Date – Read 1–4 Nicholas Sparks novels
Going Steady – Read 5–8 Nicholas Sparks novels
Engaged – Read 9–12 Nicholas Sparks novels
Married – Read 13–16 Nicholas Sparks novels
My goal was First Date - Read 1 - 4 Nicholas Sparks Novels. I have completed this challenge and read 4 books. I am not ready to take part in this challenge again in 2014.
All my Posts are HERE
List of books:
Reading Challenge Details:
Runs January 1, 2013 – December 31, 2013 (books read prior to 1/1/2013 do not count towards the challenge). You can join at anytime. Sign up on The Book Vixen’s blog.
The goal is to read or re-read as many Nicholas Sparks novels as you’d like. See the different levels below and pick the one that works best for you. You can move up a level as often as you’d like but no moving down.
Books can be any format (bound, ebook, audio).
You can list your books in advance or list them as you read them. It is not required that you review the books you read for this challenge but feel free to do so.
Re-reads and crossovers from other reading challenges are allowed.
Grab the reading challenge button and post this reading challenge on your blog to track your progress. Please include a link back to this sign-up post so others can join the reading challenge too. You do not have to be a book blogger to participate; you can track your progress on Goodreads or LibraryThing.
Levels:
First Date – Read 1–4 Nicholas Sparks novels
Going Steady – Read 5–8 Nicholas Sparks novels
Engaged – Read 9–12 Nicholas Sparks novels
Married – Read 13–16 Nicholas Sparks novels
My goal was First Date - Read 1 - 4 Nicholas Sparks Novels. I have completed this challenge and read 4 books. I am not ready to take part in this challenge again in 2014.
All my Posts are HERE
List of books:
Level 1+2 of the Serious Readers Challenge for 2013 Finished
Level 1 of the Serious Readers Challenge for 2013.
This challenge is for serious readers. If you can commit to read at least a hundred books, well, we'll let you play. The challenge will consist of many levels, each level will consist of 100 books. So once you complete your first hundred, you may advance to the next level - Level 2. Just create your list of books (at this level label them 1 through 100) and mark them off with a strike through them as you finish. If you find you can't finish one of the books on your list for any reason, you may replace it with another. Also, if you just want to decide what you read as you go you can do that as well. Since this challenge is for the year 2013 any books you've read this year may be included so we may have quite a few levels being utilized at one time once I get this challenge up. If you get done with one level, but I haven't created the next just let me know and I'll add the next level to our challenge. This is a free choice challenge. Read whatever you want. Hopefully, all is clear. Happy reading.
My goal for this year was to read at least 130 books. In this challenge level 1 is 100 books so I was sure I could do that.
I finished the 1st part of the challenge June 29th and moved on to level 2.
I have read 201 books in 2013 so I also completed level 2 of this challenge.
THIS is bookshelf on Goodreads for this challenge. And THIS is the list for the level 1.
Level 2 list of books is HERE.
My posts are HERE. And the full list of all my books read in 2013 is HERE.
This challenge is for serious readers. If you can commit to read at least a hundred books, well, we'll let you play. The challenge will consist of many levels, each level will consist of 100 books. So once you complete your first hundred, you may advance to the next level - Level 2. Just create your list of books (at this level label them 1 through 100) and mark them off with a strike through them as you finish. If you find you can't finish one of the books on your list for any reason, you may replace it with another. Also, if you just want to decide what you read as you go you can do that as well. Since this challenge is for the year 2013 any books you've read this year may be included so we may have quite a few levels being utilized at one time once I get this challenge up. If you get done with one level, but I haven't created the next just let me know and I'll add the next level to our challenge. This is a free choice challenge. Read whatever you want. Hopefully, all is clear. Happy reading.
My goal for this year was to read at least 130 books. In this challenge level 1 is 100 books so I was sure I could do that.
I finished the 1st part of the challenge June 29th and moved on to level 2.
I have read 201 books in 2013 so I also completed level 2 of this challenge.
THIS is bookshelf on Goodreads for this challenge. And THIS is the list for the level 1.
Level 2 list of books is HERE.
My posts are HERE. And the full list of all my books read in 2013 is HERE.
The Santa Shop by Tim Greaton
Skip Ralstat is a man so
steeped in grief and despair that life seems no longer possible. After
the death of his wife and child, Skip blames himself. He has given up
his friends, his job, and even his home. Now, homeless, he survives on
the mean streets of Albany. He knows it can't go on, that life must end.
But will it?
Come join him on his most unusual road to redemption. The salvation of one life...lies along this road.
Let the healing from "The Santa Shop" begin. From Goodreads.
I enjoyed this more than I expected. Yes it is sad but it is full of the Christmas Spirit of helping each other.
This book qualifies for:
Goodreads 2013 Reading Challenge
Serious Readers 2013
CCC Winter Spell 2013-14
2013 Ebook Challenge
2013 Why Buy the Cow? Reading Challenge (free on Amazon.com 8th of October 2013)
Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge 2013
CCC-Read your age
Crazy Challenge Connection RaT #19
Come join him on his most unusual road to redemption. The salvation of one life...lies along this road.
Let the healing from "The Santa Shop" begin. From Goodreads.
I enjoyed this more than I expected. Yes it is sad but it is full of the Christmas Spirit of helping each other.
This book qualifies for:
Goodreads 2013 Reading Challenge
Serious Readers 2013
CCC Winter Spell 2013-14
2013 Ebook Challenge
2013 Why Buy the Cow? Reading Challenge (free on Amazon.com 8th of October 2013)
Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge 2013
CCC-Read your age
Crazy Challenge Connection RaT #19
Monday, December 30, 2013
A Cowboy For Christmas by Kristen James
When her estranged
brother passes, Missy is suddenly an unwanted co-owner to Ocean View
Stables by Florence, Oregon. Missy wants to start over somewhere new
after her old boss burned her. She's jobless and has a wrongly ruined
reputation, so this works out perfectly . . . until she meets the cowboy
running the place. Brent built his dream with determination and
his two hands; he's responsible for everything that happens there.
Secretly, he feels responsible that his former partner died. He also
doesn't hide his belief that Missy won't stick around. Women tend to
take off on him so why would she be any different? They both have a
past that can ruin their future. Can he trust her to stay? Can she
trust him with her heart? From Goodreads.
This was an okay romance. Apart from taking part around Christmas there is no Christmas theme in it.
This book qualifies for:
Goodreads 2013 Reading Challenge
Serious Readers 2013
CCC Winter Spell 2013-14
2013 Ebook Challenge
Setting Alphabet Reading Challenge
Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge 2013
2013 Why Buy the Cow? Reading Challenge (free on Amazon.uk 27th of December 2011)
Crazy Challenge Connection RaT #19
This was an okay romance. Apart from taking part around Christmas there is no Christmas theme in it.
This book qualifies for:
Goodreads 2013 Reading Challenge
Serious Readers 2013
CCC Winter Spell 2013-14
2013 Ebook Challenge
Setting Alphabet Reading Challenge
Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge 2013
2013 Why Buy the Cow? Reading Challenge (free on Amazon.uk 27th of December 2011)
Crazy Challenge Connection RaT #19
Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks
When a mysterious young
woman named Katie appears in the small North Carolina town of Southport,
her sudden arrival raises questions about her past. Beautiful yet
self-effacing, Katie seems determined to avoid forming personal ties
until a series of events draws her into two reluctant relationships: one
with Alex, a widowed store owner with a kind heart and two young
children; and another with her plainspoken single neighbor, Jo. Despite
her reservations, Katie slowly begins to let down her guard, putting
down roots in the close-knit community and becoming increasingly
attached to Alex and his family.
But even as Katie begins to fall in love, she struggles with the dark secret that still haunts and terrifies her . . . a past that set her on a fearful, shattering journey across the country, to the sheltered oasis of Southport. With Jo’s empathic and stubborn support, Katie eventually realizes that she must choose between a life of transient safety and one of riskier rewards . . . and that in the darkest hour, love is the only true safe haven. From Goodreads
This was better than the last two Nicholas Sparks books I read, but still not as good as The Notebook. It touches the scary life in an abusive relationship and how difficult it can be to get out. I didn't find any surprises in the book, it all turned out as I expected.
This book qualifies for:
Goodreads 2013 Reading Challenge
Serious Readers 2013
CCC Winter Spell 2013-14
2013 Nicholas Sparks Reading Challenge
2013 Ebook Challenge
CCC-Read your age
Crazy Challenge Connection RaT #19
But even as Katie begins to fall in love, she struggles with the dark secret that still haunts and terrifies her . . . a past that set her on a fearful, shattering journey across the country, to the sheltered oasis of Southport. With Jo’s empathic and stubborn support, Katie eventually realizes that she must choose between a life of transient safety and one of riskier rewards . . . and that in the darkest hour, love is the only true safe haven. From Goodreads
This was better than the last two Nicholas Sparks books I read, but still not as good as The Notebook. It touches the scary life in an abusive relationship and how difficult it can be to get out. I didn't find any surprises in the book, it all turned out as I expected.
This book qualifies for:
Goodreads 2013 Reading Challenge
Serious Readers 2013
CCC Winter Spell 2013-14
2013 Nicholas Sparks Reading Challenge
2013 Ebook Challenge
CCC-Read your age
Crazy Challenge Connection RaT #19
Saturday, December 28, 2013
Crazy Challenge Connection RaT #19
Crazy Challenge Connection RaT #19 hosted by Crazy Challenge Connection on Goodreads.
'Tis that time again :) Our next Read-a-thon will begin at 12:01am Sunday, December 29, and continue until midnight on Saturday, January 4, a total of seven days. (Use your local time for start/end times.) We're hoping that this will help you finish your December reading lists/challenges and get a head start on next month's reading!
Note: Yes, we know that this is a crazy busy time of year for everyone, but we also know that a lot of us have challenges that end on December 31, and might need a boost to get them finished on time.
Again, our goals for this RaT will be to:
(1) complete any challenges ending in December that you haven't finished yet and start on January's challenges (when appropriate) and/or
(2) work on that pile of library books -- or those new books you got as gifts from family/friends! -- that's waiting for your attention and/or
(3) read anything you want to read, just because!
If none of these goals fit your reading plan, then create your own goal and let us know what you plan to accomplish :) As you read, be sure to check in here and let us know what you've read, how it fits your goals, how you rate the book, and anything else you want to tell us about it!
So ... who's in? :D
I am going to take part in this challenge and hope to read at least 3 books. 2 to complete my 2013 challenges and 1 to start the 2014 challenges.
For Nicholas Sparks 2013:
Safe Haven
Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge 2013:
A Cowboy For Christmas by Kristen James
The Santa Shop by Tim Greaton
A Little Christmas Magic by Sylvie Kurtz
For different 2014 challenges:
An Unlikely Witch by Debora Geary or/and
Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews
Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews
'Tis that time again :) Our next Read-a-thon will begin at 12:01am Sunday, December 29, and continue until midnight on Saturday, January 4, a total of seven days. (Use your local time for start/end times.) We're hoping that this will help you finish your December reading lists/challenges and get a head start on next month's reading!
Note: Yes, we know that this is a crazy busy time of year for everyone, but we also know that a lot of us have challenges that end on December 31, and might need a boost to get them finished on time.
Again, our goals for this RaT will be to:
(1) complete any challenges ending in December that you haven't finished yet and start on January's challenges (when appropriate) and/or
(2) work on that pile of library books -- or those new books you got as gifts from family/friends! -- that's waiting for your attention and/or
(3) read anything you want to read, just because!
If none of these goals fit your reading plan, then create your own goal and let us know what you plan to accomplish :) As you read, be sure to check in here and let us know what you've read, how it fits your goals, how you rate the book, and anything else you want to tell us about it!
So ... who's in? :D
I am going to take part in this challenge and hope to read at least 3 books. 2 to complete my 2013 challenges and 1 to start the 2014 challenges.
For Nicholas Sparks 2013:
Safe Haven
Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge 2013:
A Cowboy For Christmas by Kristen James
The Santa Shop by Tim Greaton
A Little Christmas Magic by Sylvie Kurtz
For different 2014 challenges:
An Unlikely Witch by Debora Geary or/and
Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews
Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews
Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews
When her werewolf friend
Derek is discovered half dead, Kate Daniels knows that she cannot rest
until she neutralizes his attackers. Her hunt for the culprits
ultimately leads her to the Midnight Games, an invitation-only,
no-holds-barred paranormal fighting tournament. Magically appealing. From Goodreads
This Kate Daniels series just keeps getting better. I read this in one day and I am looking forward to the next one which I will read in the beginning of January. If you like books with shifters and lots of other paranormal creatures I can recommend this series.
This book qualifies for:
Goodreads 2013 Reading Challenge
Serious Readers 2013
CCC Winter Spell 2013-14
CCC-Read your age
This Kate Daniels series just keeps getting better. I read this in one day and I am looking forward to the next one which I will read in the beginning of January. If you like books with shifters and lots of other paranormal creatures I can recommend this series.
This book qualifies for:
Goodreads 2013 Reading Challenge
Serious Readers 2013
CCC Winter Spell 2013-14
CCC-Read your age
Friday, December 27, 2013
2014 Women Challenge Sign Up
2014 Women Challenge hosted by Peek a booK!.
Welcome to the second edition of the “Women Challenge”!
This challenge will make us want to read more books of any kind written by women, so choose whatever you like and get involved!
Set your level and, if you like, leave me a comment on this post listing your three favourite women writers, in order to suggest new names to other participants as well.
Here are mine (they are just the first ones coming to my mind):
* Simone De Beauvoir
* Fannie Flagg
* Joanne Harris
* anyone can join;
* you don't need a blog to partecipate: if you are a non-blogger please leave a comment with a link (if you review elsewhere) to your review or with the list of the books you read and the level you choose;
* audio, e-books, bound books and re-reads are ok;
* create a sign up post on your blog and post the link in the Linky below (scroll down please, it's at the end of the italian translation);
* challenge goes from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014;
* here you can link for your reviews.
Level 1: BABY GIRL - read 5 books written by a woman author
Level 2: GIRLS POWER - read 6 to 15 books written by a woman author
Level 3: SUPER GIRL - read 16 to 20 books written by a woman author
Level 4: WONDER WOMAN - read 20+ books written by a woman author
It's never too late to join!
Have fun and good luck! :)
I am ready to join this challenge again. I took part in 2013 and more than half of the books I read, over a hundred, were written by women. My goal is to reach Level 4: WONDER WOMAN - read 20+ books written by a woman author.
List of books:
Welcome to the second edition of the “Women Challenge”!
This challenge will make us want to read more books of any kind written by women, so choose whatever you like and get involved!
Set your level and, if you like, leave me a comment on this post listing your three favourite women writers, in order to suggest new names to other participants as well.
Here are mine (they are just the first ones coming to my mind):
* Simone De Beauvoir
* Fannie Flagg
* Joanne Harris
Rules:
* anyone can join;
* you don't need a blog to partecipate: if you are a non-blogger please leave a comment with a link (if you review elsewhere) to your review or with the list of the books you read and the level you choose;
* audio, e-books, bound books and re-reads are ok;
* create a sign up post on your blog and post the link in the Linky below (scroll down please, it's at the end of the italian translation);
* challenge goes from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014;
* here you can link for your reviews.
Levels:
Level 1: BABY GIRL - read 5 books written by a woman author
Level 2: GIRLS POWER - read 6 to 15 books written by a woman author
Level 3: SUPER GIRL - read 16 to 20 books written by a woman author
Level 4: WONDER WOMAN - read 20+ books written by a woman author
It's never too late to join!
Have fun and good luck! :)
I am ready to join this challenge again. I took part in 2013 and more than half of the books I read, over a hundred, were written by women. My goal is to reach Level 4: WONDER WOMAN - read 20+ books written by a woman author.
List of books:
- An Unlikely Witch by Debora Geary
- A little Christmas Magic by Sylvie Kurtz
- Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews
- Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews
- Brazen by Kelley Armstrong
- Deep Blue Secret by Christie Anderson
- Himmelbegravelsen (Sky Burial) by Xinran
- Must Love Hellhounds by Charlaine Harris, Nalini Singh, Ilona Andrews, Meljean Brook
- Aurora Sky by Nikki Jefford
- Unexpected Gifts by Elena Aitken
- The Rising by Kelley Armstrong
- The Good, the Bad, and the Undead by Kim Harrison
- Every Which Way But Dead by Kim Harrison
- A Fistful of Charms by Kim Harrison
- Angels' Blood by Nalini Singh
- The Highlander's Hope by Cali MacKay
- Honeymoon For One by Chris Keniston
- What Stays in Vegas by Beth Labonte
- Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness
- Speechless by Hannah Harrington
- Forever Fae by L.P. Dover
- Two Weeks with a SEAL by Theresa Marguerite Hewitt
- Archangel's Kiss by Nalini Singh
Shifter Challenge 2014 Sign Up
Shifter Challenge 2014 hosted by Parajunkee.
List of books:
THE RULES:
- The Shifter Challenge runs from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014
- The challenge is to read 10 books that have a SHIFTER as a main, or supporting character
- Books can be in any format and should be at least 100 pages. Short stories do not count. You can also post about rereads.
- Post about this challenge on your blog stating that you are participating or create a shelf via Goodreads, Booklikes etc. That post or shelf is the link that you will include in the link-up below. The link should be the post link not just your direct blog link. Please be courteous and include a link back to this post.
- Post your reviews on the Review Post: Click here to log your reviews!
List of books:
- Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews
- Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews
- Brazen by Kelley Armstrong
- The Rising by Kelley Armstrong
- Curran POV Collection by Gordon Andrews
- Gunmetal Magic by Ilona Andrews
- Magic Rises by Ilona Andrews
- Night Broken by Patricia Briggs
- Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews
- Baehrly Bitten by Elizabeth A. Reeves
- Baehrly Alive by Elizabeth A. Reeves
- How (Not) to Kiss a Were Bear by Elizabeth A. Reeves
Vampire Challenge 2014 Sign Up
Vampire Challenge 2014 hosted by Parajunkee.
List of books:
THE RULES:
- The Vampire Challenge runs from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014
- The challenge is to read 10 books that have a VAMPIRE as a main, or supporting character
- Books can be in any format and should be at least 100 pages. Short stories do not count. You can also post about rereads.
- Post about this challenge on your blog stating that you are participating or create a shelf via Goodreads, Booklikes etc. That post or shelf is the link that you will include in the link-up below. The link should be the post link not just your direct blog link. Please be courteous and include a link back to this post.
- Post your reviews on the Review Post: Click here to log your reviews!
List of books:
- Aurora Sky by Nikki Jefford
- The Good, the Bad, and the Undead by Kim Harrison
- Every Which Way But Dead by Kim Harrison
- A Fistful of Charms by Kim Harrison
- Angels' Blood by Nalini Singh
- Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness
- Archangel's Kiss by Nalini Singh
- WitchHunt by Emma Mills
- For a Few Demons More by Kim Harrison
- The Outlaw Demon Wails by Kim Harrison
- White Witch, Black Curse by Kim Harrison
What’s In A Name 2014 Sign-Up
What’s In A Name 2014 hosted by The Worm Hole.
The basics
Another interesting sounding reading challenge and I have a book for one of the categories already. My goal is to finish a book for each of the 5 categories.
Update: In February a sixth category was added: A book with a school subject in the title. And yes, that does mean you can get creative and use a magical academic subject if you wish – Hogwarts is a school, after all.
List of books:
The basics
The challenge runs from January to December. During this time you
choose a book to read from each of the following categories (examples of
books you could choose are in brackets):
A reference to time (Eleven Minutes, Before Ever After)A position of royalty (The People’s Queen, The Last Empress, The Curse Of The Pharaoh)A number written in letters (The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, A Tale Of Two Cities)A forename or names (Rebecca, Eleanor & Park, The Unfinished Work Of Elizabeth D.)A type or element of weather (Gone With The Wind, Red Earth Pouring Rain)
Remember the titles I’ve given here are only examples, you can by all
means use them if you want to – some are classics after all – but it’s
not necessary. There are plenty of other books that will fit the
categories and you may have some in mind already or even some on your
shelves you can read. I’ve been getting a lot of questions
about whether there will be a sixth category – not this year. I
realised too late after publishing the post that I hadn’t included a
sixth, so as not to confuse everyone we’ll be sticking with five this
time around.
Extra information
- Books can be any format (print, audio, ebook).
- It’s preferred that the books don’t overlap with other challenges, but not a requirement at all.
- Books cannot overlap categories (for instance my first example, Eleven Minutes, could be used for category 1 or 3 but not both).
- Creativity for matching the categories is not only allowed, it’s encouraged!
- You don’t have to make your list of books beforehand, you can choose them as you go.
- You don’t have to read your chosen books in any particular order.
Another interesting sounding reading challenge and I have a book for one of the categories already. My goal is to finish a book for each of the 5 categories.
Update: In February a sixth category was added: A book with a school subject in the title. And yes, that does mean you can get creative and use a magical academic subject if you wish – Hogwarts is a school, after all.
List of books:
- A reference to time: Forever Fae by L.P. Dover
- A position of royalty: Death on the Aegean Queen By Maria Hudgins
- A number written in letters: Honeymoon For One by Chris Keniston
- A forename or names: John Macnab by John Buchan
- A type or element of weather: After the Storm by M. Stratton
- A school subjec: The Secret History by Donna Tartt
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