Counting Down to 100 +

For my 100+ Reading Challenge I need to post my reads to date. Since I really don't get around to reviewing ALL my books I thought I would post my reads per month.

This will help keep a tally of how things are going toward my Challenge Goals and will let you all know my reading for the month.

I'll then have a chance to go back and add the links to the books that I review. I will post the grade the book received even though I haven't posted the review.





January: Great month with 23 books read. Started a new series (Psy-Changeling by Nalini Singh) and had some closure on another (Merry Gentry)

Club Dead	Charlaine Harris	B
Over the Edge	Suzanne Brockmann	C+
Tech Support	Jet Mykles	B
Feels So Right	Carol Lyne	D
Snagged	Jet Mykles	B
The Strength of Three	Annmarie McKenna	DNF
Swallowing Darkness	Laurell K. Hamilton	A+
Out of Control	Suzanne Brockmann	B+
Slave to Sensation	Nalini Singh	A
Inkheart	Cornelia Funke	B+
Lost Duke of Wyndham	Julia Quinn	B
Back From Hell	Shiloh Walker	B
Fragile	Shiloh Walker	B-
Mr Cavendish, I Presume	Julia Quinn	B-
Menange	Emma Holly	B-
BodyGuard	Suzanne Brockmann	B
Visions of Heat	Nalini Singh	A
Into the Night	Suzanne Brockmann	B
Baby, I'm Yours	Catherine Mann	B
3 Brides for 3 Bad Boys	Lucy Monroe	B
Irresistable	Mary Balogh	C
My Darling Caroline	Adele Ashworth	B-
Bacchus	Jordan Summer	C-

February: Keeping the momentum going with 16 more added to the list. Loved the last installment to the Camel Club series by Baldacci. This is a great suspense series and is highly recommended across the board. Also continued with my Dark hunter and Troubleshooters re-reads. I’m trying to catch up to the series at some point so I can read the newest additions.

March: Adding 16 more to my total. I’m finally caught up with the Troubleshooter’s series. – from this point on they are new books for me. It was a great reading month but the quality of the reading was not up to snuff.

April: Can you believe I added 21 books to my books read list? Yup. Discovered Megan Whalen Turner this month and I'm in love!!


May: Just 8 books read but that in itself is a miracle! My baby graduated!! Yup crazy month but very happy and proud.

June: Back on my game with 16 books read. None that jump out as winners but good titles none the less.

July: I discovered that Charlaine Harris can write more than just vampire books. Started reading another series by her that is just fabulous. Haper Conelly is a unique character that gets herself into just terrible scraps. I also read the latest J.R. Ward book!! I LOVE my Brotherhood boys!! Got 11 books under my belt.

August: Out of the 13 books read this month 4 were re-reads. I'm trying to catch upto my daughter in her Dark Hunter reading. We met with Sherrilyn Kenyon in Dallas so I had to get into the mood. I also opened the door to another new author, Robyn Carr. Her Virgin River series is just wonderful!

September: Excellent reading month in quantity (19 books read) but not so much in quality. Best of the bunch was Scott Westerfelds Uglies Series. Tally and her Pretties kept me engaged.

October: Yup! October is here and the best reading was done. Read 16 books so it's not about the numbers but quality was regained. Discovered authors like Patricia Briggs, Carrie Vaughn, Meljean Brooks, etc. I also started another Charlaine Harris series, Lily Bard kicks a**

November: November only brought 7 books to the finish line but all were A's with exception of one B+ and a B-, so that was not too shabby!!

December:

Challenges for 2009 Part 5 - 100+ Reading 09

Last but not least I’m joining the 100+ Reading challenge. Last year I read 110 books and was very happy so I expect to hit that number w/o a problem – although you never know when life can get in the way of your reading.

Here is the info on this one:

100+ Reading Challenge

http://j-kaye-book-blog.blogspot.com/

The 100+ Reading Challenge will be hosted here this year. Here are the guidelines:

1) You can join anytime as long as you don’t start reading your books prior to 2009.
2) This challenge is for 2009 only. The last day to have all your books read is December 31, 2009.
3) You can join anytime until December 31, 2009.
4) If you don’t have a blog, please join our Yahoo Groups.

5) When you sign up under Mr. Linky, list the direct link to your post where your 100+ books will be listed. If you list just your blog’s URL, it will be removed.

6) All books count: children’s, YA, adults, fiction, non-fiction, how-tos, etc.
7) Feel free to post in the comment section or on Yahoo Groups your monthly progress as well as your favorite books that month.


I'm keeping track of the books on a separate list here:
Count Down to 100+


Okay, so those are my challenges for this year. There were so many great ones out there… audiobook, ebook, etc but I felt like I was cheating by signing up since they would have been so easy and then they wouldn’t be much of a challenge!

Good Luck on your reading Challenges in 2009!!

Challenges for 2009 Part 4 - TBR Themed 09

I love themed book challenges but 2009 did not offer a challenge of that nature so I was about to create my own challenge when I ran into AvidBookReaders TBR challenge.


The details are more difficult to post so I recommend you visit the site to hear more about it. AvidBookReader Blog - TBR Challenge

There is one hitch... There is a specific day to post the reviews… I guess that might be a problem but I’ll wing it and see how things go.



January: Category – Baby, I’m Yours by Catherine Mann
February: Keepers as definied by AAR – Gone too Far by Suzanne Brockmann
March: Historical Romance – Secrets of a Summer’s Night by Lisa Kleypas
April: Urban Fantasy/Paranormal – Bitten by Kelly Armstrong
May: Friends to Lovers/Unrequited Love –
June: Tortured Hero -
July: Wrongfully Accused/Just released from Jail -
August: New Authors/Old forgotten Authors -
September: New Authors/Old forgotten Authors -
October: Horror/Suspense -
Novemeber: Thanksgiving -
December: Holiday -

Challenges for 2009 Part 3 - TBR Lite 09

The TBR challenge is going 'Lite' this year since this was too restrictive for me last year. It seems many others found it iqually restrictive and the host decided to accomadate us with slightly different challenge:

TBR Challenge Lite

For those who love the original TBR Challenge, but need a little less “pressure” on their reading, the TBR Challenge *LITE* offers you that option!

You have your choice of ONE of the 3 options:

OPTION A: read 6 books in 12 months ~ your list of books CANNOT be changed, but you are allowed to have an “Alternates” list to choose from (like in the Original TBR Challenge).
OPTION B: read 6 books in 12 months ~ you CAN change your reading list throughout the year
OPTION C: make up a list of however many books you think you could get read in 12 months, as long as they are from your TBR stack/list, and then read them between January 1st and December 31st. You must have at least 3 books on your list.

Some Other General Guidelines:
- You are allowed to overlap with other challenges
- Audiobooks are allowed
- e-Books are allowed, but must still be books that you’ve wanted to read for at least 3, or more, months
- You should still have a list of books posted somewhere for others to see
- You don’t have to read your books in the order you put them on your list

http://tbrlite.wordpress.com/

Option B:
1) Inkheart by Funke
2) Lost duke of Wyndham by Quinn
3) Lover Avenged by Ward
4) Caressed by Ice by Singh
5) Mind Game by Feehan
6) Divine Justice by Baldacci

Challenges for 2009 Part 2 - Pub 09

Second on my List of Challenges is for those books published in 2009. Sponsored once more by 1morechapter.com

Pub 09

http://1morechapter.com/pub/

Here are the 2009 rules:

1. Read a minimum of 9 books first published in 2009. You don’t have to buy these. Library books, unabridged audios, or ARCs are all acceptable. To qualify as being first published in 2009, it must be the first time that the book is published in your own country. For example, if a book was published in Australia, England, or Canada in 2008, and then published in the USA in 2009, it counts (if you live in the USA). Newly published trade paperbacks and mass market paperbacks do not count if there has been a hardcover/trade published before 2009. Any questions on what qualifies? Just leave a comment here, and I’ll respond with the answer.
2. No children’s/YA titles allowed, since we’re at the ‘pub.’
3. At least 5 titles must be fiction.
4. Crossovers with other challenges are allowed.
5. You can add your titles as you go, and they may be changed at any time.
6. Sign up below using Mr. Linky.
7. Have fun reading your 2009 books

1) Burning Wild by Christine Feehan (6/09)
2) Fragile by Shiloh Walker
3) Dark of Night by Suzanne Brockmann (4/09)
4) Instant Attraction by Jill Shalvis (3/09)
5) Dead and Gone by Charlain Harris (6/09)
6) Lethal Legacy by Linda Fairstien
7) Look Again by Lisa Scottoline
8) First Comes Love by Mary Balogh(6/09)
9) What I Did For Love by Susan Elizabeth Phillips


Update: I have completed this challenge although I have not reviewed many of the titles.

Challenges for 2009 Part 1- Triple 9

Some challenges are just great to motivate you and others make you resent having to read. I take challenges to be in the first group and so I decided to join just as many challenges this year as in 2008 but with fewer restrictions.

The first challenge I joined was this year’s version of Triple 8. It’s called Triple 9 and here are the rules:

Triple 9 Challenge

Read 9 books each in 9 different categories in 2009.

1. Challenge runs from January 1 through December 31, 2009.
2. Choose 9 categories of your own that you would like to read 9 books EACH in.
3. You will be allowed 9 overlaps (books that fit into more than one category).
4. You may overlap your titles with any other challenge.
5. You may change your list or your categories at any time.

To make it harder --- If you need more of a challenge…Complete all your books by 9/9/09

http://the999challenge.blogspot.com/

Group 1: Paranormals:
1) Swallowing Darkness by Hamilton
2) Club Dead by Charlaine Harris
3) Back From Hell by Shiloh Walker
4) Lover Avenged by J.R Ward
5) Dance with the Devil by Kenyon
6) Kiss the Night by Kenyon
7) Night Play by Kenyon
8) Fangs for the Memories by Kathy Love
9) Bitten by Kelly Armstrong

Group 2: Young Adults:
1) Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
2) The Girl Who Could Fly by Victoria Forester
3) Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr
4) The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner
5) Vampire Academy by Mead
6) The Uglies by Westerfield
7) Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr
8) The Curious incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon
9) Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Group 3: Suspense
1) The Appeal by John Grisham
2) Divine Justice by David Baldacci
3) Book of Lies by Brad Meltzer
4) Lethal Legacy by Linda Fairstien
5) Look Again by Lisa Scottoline
6) Perfect Husband by Lisa Gardner
7)
8)
9)

Group 4: 2009 New Releases
1) Lover Avenged by J.R Ward
2) Fragile by Shiloh Walker
3) Dark of Night by Suzanne Brockmann
4) Branded by Fire by Nalini Singh
5) First Family by David Baldacci
6) Lethal Legacy by Linda Fairstien
7) Look Again by Lisa Scottoline
8) Burn by Linda Howard
9) What I Did For Love by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Group 5: Published on or before 2000
1) Bodyguard by Suzanne Brockmann
2) Menage by Emma Holly
3) Iresistible by Mary Balogh
4) Glitter Baby by Susan Elizabeth Phillips (1983)
5) Undercover Princess by Suzanne Brockmann
6)
7)
8)
9)

Group 6: Series/Category Romance:
1) Baby I’m yours by Catherine Mann
2) Price for Passion by Susan Napier
3) Reckless Conduct by Susan Napier
4) Accidental Mistress by Susan Napier
5) In Bed with the Boss by Susan Napier
6) Under the Millionaire's Influence by Catherine Mann
7)
8)
9)

Group 7: Books in Series:
1) Lost Duke of Wyndham by Julia Quinn
2) Simply Unforgettable by Mary Balogh
3) Naked in Death by JD Robb
4) Confessions of a Shopoholic by Sophia Kinsella
5) Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
6) Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning
7) Split Second by David Baldacci
8) Tempted by His Kiss by Tracy Anne Warren
9) First Comes Marriage by Mary Balogh

Group 8: New Authors
1) Salve to Sensation by Nalini Singh
2) Baby I’m yours by Catherine Mann
3) My Darling Caroline by Adele Ashworth
4) The Bride Bed by Linda Needham
5) Shards of Honor by Lois McMasters Bujold
6) Fangs for the Memories by Kathy Love
7) Instant Attraction by Jill Shalvis
8) An Assembly Such as This by Pamela Aidan
9) Darkest Fire by Gena Showalter

Group 9: Historicals
1) Mr. Cavendish, I Presume by Julia Quinn
2) Secrets of a Summer Night by Lisa Kleypas
3) To Sin With a Stranger by Kathryn Caskie
4) To Taste Temptation by Elizabeth Hoyt
5) To Seduce a Sinner by Elizabeth Hoyt
6) It Happened One Autumn by Lisa Kleypas
7) Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas
8) Duty and Desire by Pamela Aidan
9)


Some categories are easier to fill up while others will remain open until I run into a book that might fit the bill.

I have decided to break up this post on challenges so that each challenge will have it's own link.
Keep your eyes out for the other challenges.

One challenge I won't be posting about is the Chunkster Challenge. I was keeping an eye out so I could join on time but reading the rules it does not allow for YA books (which I think should not have been put as a limit since some of us love YA books and read them a lot) and it also restricts the chunksters from being Audiobooks (which I also think unfair but I can understand since some people don’t consider Audiobooks as a valid reading vehicle) – so that challenge is out!
:(

2008 Challenge Wrap-up

Running a bit late on this one but better late than never!

In 2008 I joined several challenges that had mixed success. Even those I didn't complete I still enjoyed and I have plans on repeating the exercise again in 2009.

Wrapping up the year I'll start with a run down of the challenges for 2008.

Triple 8 Challenge - 8 books in 8 categories in 2008.
For my categories I had selected Anthologies, Audiobooks, Romantic Suspense, Paranormals, Published before 2000, Series Romance, Young Adults and New Authors. I completed all categories except Anthologies. It's the category that I suspected would give me the hardest time but I noticed that Romantic Suspense was also difficult to complete. Still I really enjoyed this challenge and I will be joining it again in 2009.

To Be Read Challenge (TBR) was another challenge I missed from completing. I was one book away. I honestly did not enjoy this one because the restrictions were too tight. You had to select your reading list out the door and you could not change those you selected. I am not always in the mood to read certain books and the ability to change my list is important to me. That is why in 2009 I'll join a lighter version of this challenge which will afford me some more flexibility. I think you should read what you enjoy and if I'm forcing myself to read something it feels more like homework that pleasure.

I missed completing The Classic Romances by one book as well. This one was not bad but it became an afterthought more like - hey I have a challenge.. let me see if I have read any of the books on the list. I think I'll pass on this one.

Book A Month was the most challenging of all my reading challenges (no pun intended), I missed 3 themes on this one because I just could not find a book I wanted to read for that theme. I missed the first month's theme because I signed up late (TIME) and then I missed May (MOTHER) and July (INDEPENDENCE). Yeah, that last one should have been a no brainer but in July.. Could not think of ANYTHING to read with that theme,

I completed all my other challenges with plenty of time to spare....

Pub 08 - 8 books published in 2008
Stephenie Meyer mini challenge - read all of Ms Meyer's books in 2008
Chunkster Challenge - I didn't officially sign up for this one but I still did it. Had to read a few BIG CHUNKY books and all the Twilight books qualified.
100+ Reading Challenge - Read 110 books in 2008 so I did get to meet this challenge as well.

This wraps up the Challenges that I signed up for in 2008. I have not posted all the reviews for the books that I had pending but at this stage if the game it's unlikely that I will, so I thought I'd just post the wrap up and move on.

2009 Challenges will be up soon.