GOODBYE

I have decided to discontinue this blog as I am not enjoying it as much as I used to.

But I still LOVE to read and take part in challenges so I have made a group on Goodreads where I list of my challenges.

New Year, New Hero by Susan Alison

Kate Benning and Tom Cole, both members of neighbourly households known locally as The Three Families, had always known they would marry each other.
However, Tom was stifling her, and Kate was determined to free herself of these marital expectations before the New Year began.
She dreamed of getting herself a new hero in the New Year.
And a dog. She'd always wanted a dog.
But nothing ever goes according to plan... From Goodreads.

This was weird and too far out. I know everything was connected in the end but it was confusing getting there. I like the MC in this story but the end was too mushy.

Saving Grace by Pamela Fagan Hutchins

Katie Connell is a high-strung attorney whose sloppy drinking habits and stunted love life collide hilariously in a doomed celebrity case in Dallas. When she flees Texas for the Caribbean, Katie escapes professional humiliation, a broken heart, and a wicked Bloody Mary habit, but she trades one set of problems for another when she begins to investigate the suspicious deaths of her parents on the island of St. Marcos. She’s bewitched by the voodoo spirit of an abandoned house in the rainforest and discovers that she’s as much a danger to herself as the island’s bad guys are. As the worst of her worlds collide, Katie drags herself back to the courthouse to defend her new friend Ava, an island local accused of stabbing the senator she’s been sleeping with. From Goodreads.






This was okay, but no more than that. For me the most interesting thing was the house with it's spirit. I wasn't too taken by the characters or the mystery of the MC's parents death.                                                                                                                    

Bog Child by Siobhan Dowd

Digging for peat in the mountain with his Uncle Tally, Fergus finds the body of a child, and it looks like she's been murdered. As Fergus tries to make sense of the mad world around him - his brother on hunger-strike in prison, his growing feelings for Cora, his parents arguing over the Troubles, and him in it up to the neck, blackmailed into acting as courier to God knows what, a little voice comes to him in his dreams, and the mystery of the bog child unfurls. 
Bog Child is an astonishing novel exploring the sacrifices made in the name of peace, and the unflinching strength of the human spirit. From Goodreads.

I was annoyed during the first two parts of this book - really liking Fergus but worrying about the trouble he was in for couriering packets across the border. But I love the twists in the third part that I had just not seen coming. That changed the book from an okay read to a really good read. It was also a very interesting story about the bog child that came bit by bit through the whole book.

The Faerie Guardian by Rachel Morgan

Protecting humans from dangerous magical creatures is all in a day’s work for a faerie training to be a guardian. Seventeen-year-old Violet Fairdale knows this better than anyone—she’s about to become the best guardian the Guild has seen in years. That is, until a cute human boy who can somehow see through her faerie glamor follows her into the Fae realm. Now she’s broken Guild Law, a crime that could lead to her expulsion.
The last thing Vi wants to do is spend any more time with the boy who got her into this mess, but the Guild requires that she return Nate to his home and make him forget everything he’s discovered of the Fae realm. Easy, right? Not when you factor in evil faeries, long-lost family members, and inconvenient feelings of the romantic kind. Vi is about to find herself tangled up in a dangerous plot—and it’ll take all her training to get out alive. From Goodreads.



I enjoyed this, it was slightly different than other Fae books I have read. Violet is a nice young girl who is in training to become a guardian where she has to protect humans from the bad faerie. Violet is very good at this but of course suddenly have problems on an assignment. I liked it and will at some point continue this series.

The French for Christmas by Fiona Valpy

When her best friends offer the use of their cottage in the beautiful French countryside, Evie jumps at the chance. With her soon-to-be-ex-husband, celebrity chef Will Brooke, plastered over the news with his latest ‘love interest’, leaving the country seems like the perfect plan.
Armed with her French grandmother’s tattered notebook of recipes, Evie is determined to ignore Christmas altogether and bake herself back to happiness.
And when Evie meets her next-door neighbour – the très gorgeous doctor Didier she finds a very willing taste-tester. But is it possible that he could be interested in more than just her Tarte Tatin?
With snow falling, a special Réveillon dinner and a little Christmas magic in the air, could Didier even be the one to thaw Evie’s heart? Or will a visit from the ghost of Christmas past change everything? From Goodreads.



This was quite a sad Christmas story, it does end happily but it takes some time to get there. When this book starts Evie is still grieving for the unborn child she lost the year before. This story shows different ways of coping with this loss, none of them wrong but very different. I will definitely read more from this author.

Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge 2015 - Finished

Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge 2015 hosted by Michelle at The True Book Addict.

I reached my goal to read the level of Christmas Tree: Read 5 or 6 books by reading 9 books. I only saw three Christmas films but that was okay.

Like last year, there are multiple levels for participation, like children's books and watching Christmas movies AND the Christmas Spirit Read-a-Thon is back again this year. Keep reading for details!

Details and sign up:

• challenge will run from Monday, November 23, 2014 through Wednesday, January 6, 2014 (Twelfth Night or Epiphany).
• cross over with other challenges is totally permitted AND encouraged!
• These must be Christmas novels, books about Christmas lore, a book of Christmas short stories or poems, books about Christmas crafts, and for the first time...a children's Christmas books level!
• Levels:

            --Candy Cane:  read 1 book

            --Mistletoe:  read 2-4 books

            --Christmas Tree:  read 5 or 6 books (this is the fanatic level...LOL!)

          Additional levels:

            --Fa La La La Films:  watch a bunch or a few Christmas movies...it's up to you!

            --Visions of Sugar Plums:  read books with your children this season and share what you read

          *the additional levels are optional, you still must complete one of the main reading levels above

List of books read: 

1. Christmas in the Park by Laura Lockington 
2. The Christmas Witch by Amanda M. Lee
3. I År bliver det anderledes by Maeve Binchy 
4. Julemanden og hele hans slæng by Vagn Simonsen 
5. Abigail's Christmas Gift by Charity Phillips
6. The Viscount's Christmas Temptation by Erica Ridley
7. Last Christmas by Lily Greene
8. Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson, Lauren Myracle
9. The French for Christmas by Fiona Valpy

List of films watched:

Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson, Lauren Myracle

Med "Let it snow" har du den ultimative juleroman, som nok skal få dig i den helt rigtige romantiske stemning på bedste vis.
En storm hærger på juleaften og alle dem, der bor i Gracetown oplever et kaos uden lige. De bor snart ikke længere i en hyggelig by, men under mange lag sne. Midt i kaos skiller én enkelt sig ud og trodser vejret, hvilket kommer til at få indflydelse på mange andre end hende.
"Let it snow" er skrevet af de tre forfattere John Green, Maureen Johnson og Lauren Myracle, der hver især har betaget deres læsere med fantastiske romaner. From Goodreads (Danish version)

An ill-timed storm on Christmas Eve buries the residents of Gracetown under multiple feet of snow and causes quite a bit of chaos. One brave soul ventures out into the storm from her stranded train and sets off a chain of events that will change quite a few lives. Over the next three days one girl takes a risky shortcut with an adorable stranger, three friends set out to win a race to the Waffle House (and the hash brown spoils), and the fate of a teacup pig falls into the hands of a lovesick barista.
A trio of today's bestselling authors - John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle- brings all the magic of the holidays to life in three hilarious and charming interconnected tales of love, romance, and kisses that will steal your breath away. From Goodreads (English version)

This was interesting, it is 3 different Christmas stories written by 3 different authors but they are all connected. I liked The first story the best about Jubilee, the second was okay but the third was boring. It was an okay Christmas story but no more.

Romance Readers Reading Challenges: Yahtzee Challenge 2015 / 2016 - Finished

Yahtzee Challenge hosted by Romance Readers Reading Challenges on Goodreads.

I have finished and I still think it is fun so I'm going to take part in the next one as well.

It's a 13 month challenge, with the participant 'rolling the dice' once a month. The dice need to be rolled between the 28th of the month before and the 5th of the current challenge month. You will then have the rest of the month to complete that month's task.

Only one task can be completed each month. There will be no scorekeeping, instead, you will put the title of the book(s) and date you completed the task next to the task name. This means you have completed that task for the month and you cannot do the same task again.

For Ones - Sixes - you need 3 of the same number to claim that task. It could be more, but at least 3

✔ Ones - Read a book with a one word title September 2015
 Elantris by Brandon Sanderson

✔ Twos - Read a book with a two word title July 2015
First Year by J. P. Howards


✔ Threes - Read a book with a three word title: January 2016:
Magic Shifts by Ilona Andrews

✔ Fours - Read a book with a four word title: March 2015
The Flower Hunter's Cottage by De-ann Black

✔ Fives - Read a book with a five word title: November 2015
Memories of the Blue Door by Neil Davis

✔ Sixes - Read a book with a six word title April 2015
The Slow Regard of Silent Things by Patrick Rothfuss 

✔ 3 of a kind-3 of the same number-Read 1 book with three of the same letter in title (i.e. Northern Exposure (3 e's) May 2015:
The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (3 e's)

✔ 4 of a kind-4 of the same number- Read 1 book with at least 4 of the same things on the cover (i.e 4 legs, 4 eyes, 4 noses) August 2015:
The Return of Gabe McLeod by Joanne Hill (4 eyes)


✔ Full House-2 of the same number and 3 of the same number- Read 1 book with a 2 in page count and read 1 book with a 3 in page count. January 2015:
How to be a Ghost by Audrey Claire 206 pages
Shenanigans by T.B. Bond  234 pages

✔ Sm.Straight-4 numbers in a row (i.e. 2,3,4,5) - Read 2 consecutive books in a series (i.e. book 2 and 3, book 1 and 2) October 2015:
Prophecy of the Female Warrior by K.A. Young (paranormal romance)

✔ Lg.Straight-5 numbers in a row (1,2,3,4,5 or 2,3,4,5,6) Read an Anthology: Alternate Task (dress, flower(s) or jewelry on cover): June 2015:
The Bridesmaid Blues by Tracey Sinclair (jewellery on cover)

✔ YAHTZEE (5 of the same number)-Read any book of your choice. December 2015:
The Viscount's Christmas Temptation by Erica Ridley  (historical romance)


✔ Chance (for when your roll doesn't fit anywhere else)- Read a book by a new author, take a
chance ;) February 2015:
Raven's Key: A Novel by Siomonn Pulla

January 2015: Roll: 2-3-3-2-5 / (2-3-3-2)-1 / (2-3-3-2)-2 = full house
How to be a Ghost by Audrey Claire 206 pages
Shenanigans by T.B. Bond  234 pages
February 2015: Roll: 4-6-3-3-4 / (4-4)-5-6-6 / (6-6)-3-5-2 = chance
Raven's Key: A Novel by Siomonn Pulla
March 2015:  Roll: 4-4-2-2-3 / (4-4)-1-5-1 / (4-4)-2-3-4 = Fours
The Flower Hunter's Cottage by De-ann Black
April 2015: Roll: 2-6-3-6-3 / (6-6)-1-2-4 / (6-6)-6-5-4 = Sixes
The Slow Regard of Silent Things by Patrick Rothfuss
May 2015: Roll: 4-4-1-4-6 / (4-4-4)-6-3 / (4-4-4)-3-5 = 3 of a kind
The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (3 e's)
June 2015: Roll: 2-6-1-3-2 / (2-2)-5-5-3 / (2-2)-5-5-4 = Alternate Task (dress, flower(s) or jewelry on cover)
The Bridesmaid Blues by Tracey Sinclair (jewellery on cover)
July 2015:  Roll: 4-2-2-2-1 / (2-2-2)-3-3 / (2-2-2)-5-5 =  Twos
First Year by J. P. Howards
August 2015:  Roll:  6-1-3-2-1 / (1-1)-2-4-1 / (1-1-1)-2-1 = 4 of a kind
The Return of Gabe McLeod by Joanne Hill
September 2015:  Roll: 1-1-5-2-2 / (1-1)-3-1-4 / (1-1-1)-1-6 = Ones
Elantris by Brandon Sanderson
Oktober 2015:  Roll:  3-2-1-1-5 / (3-2-1)-1-6 / (3-2-1)-1-3 = Alternate Task (Read a Paranormal Romance, or a book with a dark cover)
Prophecy of the Female Warrior by K.A. Young
November 2015:  Roll: 3-6-2-5-4 / (5)-6-3-5-4 / (5-5)-3-5-5 = Fives
Memories of the Blue Door by Neil Davis  
December 2015:  Roll: 1-3-1-5-2 / (1-1)-2-5-2 / (1-1)-1-3-6 = Alternate Task (Read a book that you have been meaning to get to for awhile or a Historical romance)
The Viscount's Christmas Temptation by Erica Ridley
January 2016:  Roll:  6-3-1-4-6 / (3)-2-6-6-1 / (3)-4-1-2-1 = Alternate Task (Read a book published in 2015 or a book that is first in a series)
Magic Shifts by Ilona Andrews (published August 2015)

List of books:

1. How to be a Ghost by Audrey Claire
2. Shenanigans by T.B. Bond 
3. Raven's Key: A Novel by Siomonn Pulla 
4. The Flower Hunter's Cottage by De-ann Black  
5. The Slow Regard of Silent Things by Patrick Rothfuss 
6. The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon  
7. The Bridesmaid Blues by Tracey Sinclair  
8. First Year by J. P. Howards 
9. The Return of Gabe McLeod by Joanne Hill 
10. Elantris by Brandon Sanderson 
11. Prophecy of the Female Warrior by K.A. Young 
12. Memories of the Blue Door by Neil Davis  
13. The Viscount's Christmas Temptation by Erica Ridley 
14. Magic Shifts by Ilona Andrews

Magic Shifts by Ilona Andrews

After breaking from life with the Pack, mercenary Kate Daniels and her mate—former Beast Lord Curran Lennart—are adjusting to a very different pace. While they’re thrilled to escape all the infighting, Curran misses the constant challenges of leading the shapeshifters.
So when the Pack offers him its stake in the Mercenary Guild, Curran seizes the opportunity—too bad the Guild wants nothing to do with him and Kate. Luckily, as a veteran merc, Kate can take over any of the Guild’s unfinished jobs in order to bring in money and build their reputation. But what Kate and Curran don’t realize is that the odd jobs they’ve been working are all connected.
An ancient enemy has arisen, and Kate and Curran are the only ones who can stop it—before it takes their city apart piece by piece…  From Goodreads.





It is no secret that Ilona Andrews is (or are as it is a husband and wife alias) one of my favourite authors. Kate and Curran are two extremely strong people but this book also shows that they are lost without each other and Julie is growing up and is turning into quite a fighter. I like that they now have to manage without the Pack but they still have all their friends. I know that a lot of people wanted more with Roland and Hugh but I was pleased that the enemy in this one is a totally new enemy and that Roland only showed up a little.

How (Not) to Spook a Spectre by Elizabeth A Reeves

There have been ten years of peace in Faerie.
Now, Faerie is under attack, especially its young women and children. From all over the land, loved ones are vanishing with no sign of what might have happened to them. Cindy and Timothy have to rally together and reveal the truth about the miller and his daughter-- and the ghost they conceal.
All while dealing with their own heartbreak. From Goodreads.

This was still okay but I didn't like it as much as the other books in this series. It was more serious than the others. I am still going to continue this series.

Wacky Reading Challenges: Mini Challenge 2016-1 (January-March)

Mini Challenge hosted by Wacky Reading Challenges on Goodreads.

This is a monthly challenge but as with the word search I have decided to do a post for every 3 months of it.
This challenge is in two parts: A spell out part and a task part. I will most likely only do the task part of the challenge.

January 2016 Mini Challenge
Date: 01/01/16 - 01/31/16



Happy New Year, Wacky friends! Let's ring in the new year together with a new mini challenge.

This is a combination spell/task challenge. You may choose to do the task, the spell out option, or a combination of both.

Challenge Rules:The page limit requirement is 125 pages; however, participants are welcome to combine smaller books to reach the page limit. All books and formats are allowed (children's, manga, graphic novels, audiobooks, etc). Re-reads are fine - just be sure to re-read the entire book. When posting updates for your challenge, please include the following information: a link to the book title, the author's name, and the date you finished reading the book.


TASKS:
1. First Month of the Year:
January is the first month of the year. Read a book by a new to you author, OR start a new series.

2. Garnet:
The Garnet is the birthstone for January. Read a book with a red, orange, or yellow cover.

3. Pink Carnation:
The pink carnation is January's flower. Read a book with the letters PINK found in the title of the book (any order).

4. Zodiac Sign:
The zodiac signs for January are Capricorn (through January 18th) and Aquarius (January 19th, forward). Read a book with a goat as part of the story, OR with water on the cover.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SPELL OUT:
Using the first letter of a book title or the first letter of the authors first or last name, spell out a January item. A list of January items is provided below. You may choose from the list, or use a word of your own that represents January to you.

1. January
2. Garnet
3. Pink Carnation
4. Capricorn
5. Aquarius
6. New Years Day
7. New Years Resolution
8. Plum Blossom 
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Wacky Reading Challenges: Word Search 2016-1 (January-March)

Word Search hosted by Wacky Reading Challenges on Goodreads.

I have decided not to take part in so many word searches this year but I will continue this one. As I don't want to make a new post every month I have decided to do a post for every 3 months.

January 2016 Word Search
January 1, 2016 - January 31, 2016

Since we didn't have a Group Read our words this month are inspired by New Year's and all the celebrations surrounding it. Our word searches based on our Group Reads will be back next month.

In honor of the New Year let's start fresh. If you have carry over words from the previous months wipe the slate clean!

Below is the list of words to find. They can only be found within the text of the book - no covers, titles or authors, please. For each word you find, provide the book title, page or location, and the sentence containing the word. You can use one book to find all the words, or as many as you like.

Optional Words: You can choose to look for them or leave them off your list...it's up to you.

***And if you don't find all the words this month, you are welcome to carry them over to next month's word search challenge.***
Words
Anticipation
Balloons
Bash
Buffet
Calendar
Cheers
Clock
Confetti
Countdown
Extravaganza
Fireworks
Horn
Invitation
Streamer
Toast

Optional Words
Auld Lang Syne
Bubbly
Hangover
Times Square
Twelve O'Clock

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A Million More Pages: Reading Challenge 2016!

Reading Challenge 2016! hosted by A Million More Pages on Goodreads.

Read a book for every week of the year, so 52 books. I will do as many as possible and hope to finish it.

Remember the big Reading Challenge of 2015 from Pop Sugar? Well, that one has been archived and a few of us AMMPers who have a blog together decided to create our own for our blog and to share with our favorite group.

The goal of course is to read as many of these as you can in 2016 but not everyone can manage 52 books or they may not be interested in some of the categories, so just have fun and happy reading in 2016! You can take the purple badge for participating, regardless of how many tasks you finish.
 
The Tasks

1. Read a book with a title beginning with the same letter as your first name
2. Read a book you keep meaning to read but never get around to
3. A Shakespeare play
4. A book you chose based on the cover
5. A book with a food or drink in the title or pictured on the cover
6. A book published in 2016
7. Start a new series (can be one you've intended to start or one you've recently learned of)
8. Finish a series you've already started (however many books you have left in the series counts, no number required)
9. A book where the main character works in a profession that interests you
10. A book that was either a relative's favorite book or author; or a book that makes you think fondly of a relative
11. Read a book outside of your comfort zone from your least favourite genre
12. Read a book which you talked about as if you'd read it, but actually hadn't (go on, you know the book...!)
13. A book published in the year you were born
14. A book set in your home country/state/town
15. A book with the main page genre 'poetry' or a book written in verse
16. A book with nothing but the title and author on the cover
17. A book you got for free (library books don't count for this one)
18. A book by an author with the same name as you (first name or last name is fine)
19. A book by an author who died in the last 5 years
20. A typical beach read
21. A book that was recommended to you
22. A book you started but never finished
23. Take a trip down memory lane - read a book you loved as a child
24. A 600+ pages book
25. A classic
26. A book set in a very cold place
27. A book translated into English
28. A book with a kitten on the front cover
29. A book with a musical instrument on the cover, eg. violin
30. A book set in space
31. A book where the author has the same initials as you
32. A book with a metallic looking cover
33. A book that was turned into a TV Show.
34. A book set in a country that is not USA
35. A book with snowflakes on the cover
36. A book by an author you love
37. A book by a new-to-you author
38. A standalone book
39. A fantasy book
40. A book turned into a movie
41. A book published before 1900
42. A children's book
43. A book first published in January
44. A Banned Book
45. A book Recommended from a friend
46. A book with a Serial Killer
47. A book from the NY Times Best Seller List
48. A book from the horror genre
49. A mystery or thriller
50. An award winner (any award, any genre, children's allowed)
51. A book with a lot of hype, that you are almost afraid to read because of the hype
52. Read a book with a buddy and compare your thoughts after finishing

2016 I Love Libraries Reading Challenge - Sign Up

I Love Library Books Reading Challenge 2016 hosted by Bea's Book Nook.

Now on Goodreads instead.

I have taken part in this challenge the last two years while it has been hosted by Gina @ Book Dragon's Lair She has decided not to host it any more but luckily Bea's Book Nook has taken over.
Where I live we have a brilliant library and it has been named the best library in Denmark in 2015. They have a lot of activities going on among the more weird ones was the the cycle race that went through the library! Also at one point they had a couple of exercise bikes connected to a charger. People could then pay their fines by cycling! Varde Bibliotek.

My main use for the library is just to pick up the books I have ordered from home. Denmark is a small country and all libraries are connected so that I can look for a book and even though my local library hasn't got the book, if it is in the Danish library system, I can order it and it will come to my local library where I can pick it up.

The last two years I have read 50 books from the library but this year I might have a period where I can't use the library so I will join at Young adult - 24 books.

I Love Libraries was formerly hosted by Book Dragon's Lair. She's cutting back her challenge hosting for 2016 and passed the baton to me. This challenge is one of several library challenges I've done since started my blog so I'm delighted to be hosting.
It's no secret that I love my library and it's been a tremendous resource for me over the years, and not just for books. For this challenge, use your library to check out reading material - books, magazines, any sort of reading material that you are allowed to check out, physical or digital. The challenge runs January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016.
The details:

1. Put a sign up post on your blog and link it below.
2. If you don't have a blog, make a dedicated goodreads shelf (or LibraryThing), make sure it's public, and link it below. 
3. Any reading material that can be checked out of your library counts - print books, audio books, digital books, magazines, etc. 
4. As part of your sign up post, briefly write why you like using your library - free books, internet access, a quiet place to work, whatever draws you to the library. If you don't have a blog platform, post it in the comments below.
5. Write a review - 2 sentences or an essay, whatever works for you, but there is a minimum of 2 sentences. Not sure what to write? How about something like, "The characters were a delight but the story was slow and confusing. It was disappointing." 
6. There will be a post each month where you can link your reviews. Each linky will run for the calendar year.
7. Pick a level from the list below. You can move up as needed but you can't move down.
8. Books may overlap with other reading challenges.
9. ETA Dec. 17: There's a goodreads group for anyone interested in discussing libraries or books or for tracking your challenge. The group was an outgrowth of yet another library reading challenge that has since ended but the group is still active. The challenge host, The Geeky Blogger, added me as a mod to the goodreads group, come check us out!

Levels:

• board book - 3
• picture book - 6
• early reader - 9
• chapter book - 12
• middle grades - 18
• Young adult - 24
• adult - 36
• just insert IV - 50

List of books: