2014 In the Middle Reading Challenge

The In the Middle Reading Challenge is hosted by Rachael Turns Pages.

Basic details:

Jan 1, 2014 - Dec 31, 2014

Books between 300 - 450 pages count.  All genres, all formats.

Reviews are not required - but having a shelf or somewhere that you list the books is appreciated. 

Levels:

Leafing through the pages - 5 books

Cruising through the pages - 10 books

Fly through the pages - 15 books

Never stop reading - 20 books

I am going for Never Stop Reading as it seems like most of the books that I read fall in this page limit requirement.

1. The One and Only Ivan

2. First Love

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2014 Full House Reading Challenge

The Full House Reading Challenge is hosted by Book Date.  For this challenge there is a challenge card (see below) that you work on filling up.

Basic details:

Jan 1, 2014 - Dec 31, 2014

Crossovers allowed, reviews are required.  There is a review linky and every two months there will be a prize.

You are allowed "one free exchange", if there is something on the square you really dislike you may change it to something of your choice. Once you have played this free card that is it. Mention the exchange in the final summary post.

Books Read:

From the Local Library: First Love

Theme/Issue You Think is Important:

Reread:

Won or Borrowed:

Book from a Series:

Best Read so Far in 2014:

Setting You'd Like to Visit:

Review Persuaded You to Read It:

Historical Fiction:

Free or Bought Very Cheaply:

From Your Wish List:

Suspense or Crime:

Free Choice:

Less than 200 Pages:

Published in 2013:

Set in a Different Country Than You:

Contemporary: Her Secret Cowboy

Published Before 2013:

Non-fiction:

Paranormal, SF or Dystopian:

Published in 2014: A SEAL's Salvation

More than 400 pages:

Book with an Animal in It: The One and Only Ivan

Author New to You:

You Love the Cover: 

2014 Everything YA Reading Challenge

The Everything YA Reading Challenge is hosted by Books & Iced Coffee.

Basic details:

Jan 1, 2014 - Dec 31, 2014

Books must be YA and longer than 100 pages. All formats are acceptable.

Reviews are not required, but you must at least have a shelf or page where the books are listed.

There will be periodic giveaways.

1. The Witch of Blackbird Pond

2. The One and Only Ivan

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The Eclectic Reader Challenge

The 2014 Eclectic Reader Challenge is hosted by Book'd Out.  The goal of this challenge is to push you outside of your comfort zone by reading 12 books during the year from 12 different genres.

Basic details:

Jan 1, 2014 - Dec 31, 2014

Select, read and review a book from each genre below.  A book may be any format and crossovers are allowed.

Categories: 

1. Award Winning - The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

2. True Crime (Non-fiction) - 

3. Romantic Comedy - 

4. Alternate History Fiction - 

5. Graphic Novel - 

6. Cozy Mystery Fiction - 

7. Gothic Fiction - 

8. War/Military Fiction - 

9. Anthology

10. Medical Thriller Fiction - 

11. Travel (Non-fiction) - 

12. Published in 2014 - Her Secret Cowboy by Marin Thomas

You can search Listopia at Goodreads for some ideas for the above genres.

Each time you review a book as part of this challenge, identify it be adding either a direct statement and/or Challenge image badge to the post.  If you tweet, use the tag #eclecticreader or @bookdout. 

There is a review Linky.

2014 Dystopia Reading Challenge

The 2014 Dystopia Reading Challenge is hosted by Blog of Erised. I don't think that I will be reading the 24 that is the challenge goal, but I think I can reach one of the lower levels.

Basic details:

Jan 1, 2014 - Dec 31, 2014

Books that count must be full-length, any format, post-apocalyptic theme books.

Levels

Level 1: Recruit - 1-6 books

Level 2: Rebel - 7-12 books

Level 3: Revolutionist - 13-18 books

Level 4: Leader - 19+ books

You will receive a badge each time you read a new level.

Reviews not required, but must review at least one to participate in the giveaway.

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Cruisin' Thru the Cozies Reading Challenge 2014

Cruisin' Thru the Cozies is hosted by Socrates Book Review. To see what a Cozy is, check out Cozy-Mystery.com. 

Basic Details:

Jan 1, 2014 - Dec 31, 2014

Chose your level:

Level 1 - Snoop - Read at least 6 books

Level 2 - Investigator - Read 7-12 books

Level 3 - Super Sleuth - Read 13-20 books

Level 4 - Sleuth Extraordinaire - Read 20+ books

Books can by any type and can overlap with other challenges. 

Reviews not required, but if you do review, there will be a review link up.  

I am going to do the Snoop Level.

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2014 Contemporary Romance Reading Challenge

The Contemporary Romance Reading Challenge is hosted by The Book Vixen.

Reading Challenge Details:

Jan 1, 2014 - Dec 31, 2014

Books that qualify for this challenge must be Adult, New Adult, or Young Adult and must be fiction. Novellas at least 100 pages long also qualify. They can be any type.   Romances with the following elements do not qualify for this reading challenge: paranormal, historical, time-travel, fantasy, science fiction, or mystery/suspense/thriller.

The goal is to read 10 comtemporary romance novels. 

Crossovers are allowed - Reviews not required.  If you do not have a book blog, you can track your books on a dedicated shelf at GoodReads, Library Thing, etc. 

1. First Love by James Patterson

2. Her Secret Cowboy by Marin Thomas

3. A SEAL's Salvation by Tawny Weber

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2014 Color Coded Reading Challenge

For the Color Coded Reading Challenge you must read 9 books in 9 different color categories. 

 It is being hosted by My Reader's Block. 

The details:

Jan 1, 2012 - Dec 31, 2014

Any and all genres and types.

Crossovers allowed - Reviews not required.  If you do have a review blog, there will be a page to link up your reviews. 

There will be a prize for everyone who completes all nine categories.

The nine color categories are as follows: 

1. A book with "Blue" or any shade of Blue (Turquoise, Aquamarine, Navy, etc) in the title.

2. A book with "Red" or any shade of Red (Scarlet, Crimson, Burgandy, etc) in the title.

3. A book with "Yellow" or any shade of Yellow (Gold, Lemon, Maize, etc.)in the title.

4. A book with "Green" or any shade of Green (Emerald, Lime, Jade, etc) in the title.

5. A book with "Brown" or any shade of Brown (Tan, Chocolate, Beige, etc) in the title.

6. A book with "Black" or any shade of Black (Jet, Ebony, Charcoal, etc) in the title.
    - The Witch of Blackbird Pond

7. A book with "White" or any shade of White (Ivory, Eggshell, Cream, etc)in the title.

8. A book with any other color in the title (Purple, Orange, Silver, Pink, Magneta, etc.).

9. A book with a word that implies color (Rainbow, Polka-dot, Plaid, Paisley, Stripe, etc.).

2014 Alphabet Soup Reading Challenge

The Alphabet Soup Challenge means that by December 31, 2014
your bowls must be full of one book for each letter of the Alphabet.

Each Letter Counts As 1 Spoonful. 

It is being hosted by Escape with Dollycas Into a Good Book. 

The basic details are as follows:

Jan 1, 2014 - Dec 31, 2014

Any and all genres and types (print, ebooks, audio).  

Crossovers allowed - Reviews not required.  If you do not have a review blog, you can make a  GoodReads shelf where you will keep track of your spoonfuls. Dollycas keeps track of hers on her Challenge Page.

It’s an alphabet challenge!!! The challenge is to read one book that has a title starting with every letter of the alphabet.

You can drop the A’s and The’s from the book titles as shown below.

So there are two different ways you can set up your own A-Z Reading Challenge.

A – Make a list on your blog from A-Z. Throughout the year, as you go along, add the books you are reading to the list. Towards the end of the year, you can check and see which letters you are missing and find books to fit.

OR

B – Make a list now of 26 books, picking one for each letter of the alphabet. For example: A – Assaulted Pretzel by Laura Bradford B- Buried in a Bog by Sheila ConnollyC – Cat Trick by Sofie Kelly D – A Deal to Die For by Josie Belle etc.

Below is my A-Z list where I will be adding my books as they are read. 

A - 
B - 
C -
D - 
E - 
F - First Love
G -
H - Her Secret Cowboy
I - 
J - 
K - 
L - 
M - 
N - 
O - (The) One and Only Ivan
P -
Q -
R -
S - (A) SEAL's Salvation
T - 
U - 
V - 
W - (The) Witch of Blackbird Pond
X - 
Y -
Z - 

Happy Holidays

Well, it has been two months since I posted my Goodbye For Now post.  Honestly, I didn't think I would last a week without the urge to come back and post again.  Time has just flown by and I can't believe it has really been two months.

I have been reading - I finished The Witches of East End series by Melissa de la Cruz, am starting the second book in the Under the Never Sky series, Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi and am reading the Secrets of Droon series by Tony Abbott with my son as well as The Vengekeep Prophecies by Brian Farrey. I still have a bathroom book - it is currently Agent of Influence by David Aaron.  I also got in a Christmas read this year  - The Christmas List by Richard Paul Evans.  This one put me at my goal of 100 books for the year.

While I haven't missed the pace that I had set for myself in reviewing ARCs, I have missed posting and being part of the book blogging community.  So where does that leave me?  CHALLENGES!   Now don't laugh.  I know, I know - every year I sign up for challenges - start out going fairly well, then fall off the map.  The difference this year is that I am not reviewing ARCs.  I am reading books that only I choose for me.  So this should let me do pretty good.  So, I think that I have highlighted 30 challenges that I am interested in signing up for.  So now I just need to decide how I am going to categorize them and post about them.

Happy New Year and Happy Reading!

Noah - Starring Russell Crowe and Emma Watson!

Check out the new trailer for  Paramount’s highly anticipated blockbuster "NOAH"!

NOAH
Synopsis: After visions of an apocalyptic deluge, Noah, the world’s only righteous man, is chosen to undertake a divine mission to build a massive ark to save his family and all of creation before the impending rains fall and the flood waters rise. 

Cast: Russell Crowe, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Jennifer Connelly and Emma Watson

Director: Darren Aronofsky 

Good Bye for Now

I have put off writing this blog post for at least a week, and have been thinking about it for much longer than that.

In 2008 I was in my fourth year as a stay-at-home mom and was really starting to go a little crazy.  I wanted to find a book club, but couldn't find anything locally that met at a time that worked for me - so I went online to try to find an online club and discovered book challenges!  I was hooked and started this blog in August of 2008 so I would have someplace to post my challenges.  Well, this quickly led into reviewing ARC's and as much as I have tried every year to do some book challenges, by August they are long forgotten in the overwhelming pile of ARC's that I have to review.

In 2011 I went back to work part time at my son's school library.  This got me out of the house and back into the "semi" adult world - as I was working at a K-2 school.  Then in August of this year, I started working a second part time job at our local library.  I love both of these positions for different reasons and hope that I can stay at both for many years to come.  Unfortunately that second job has taken a lot more time than I realized it would and blogging has suffered because of it.   I also volunteer a few hours every week at the school my son is at now - either in the library, for the hot lunch meals, or for their "Pride Store" where they can purchase small prizes for tickets they have earned.

I have been left feeling totally overwhelmed and burnt out. Oh, and  probably the most important thing that I hope will be happening in January is that I was accepted into UIS's online liberal arts/English program and hope to FINALLY finish my bachelor's degree.  So something's gotta give - and for now, that something is blogging.  This has been such a part of my life for the last five years that it is hard to say goodbye - even if it may only be for a little while.

I must say though, that finding new books to read actually sounds exciting to me again. The thought that I can read ANYTHING and it can take AS LONG AS I WANT and I DON'T HAVE TO REVIEW IT if I don't want to is very appealing!  My TBR list is longer than I ever thought it could possibly get!

I appreciate so much all the publishers, tour hosts, and authors who have offered me books over the years and hope to be in touch again in the future as my youngest grows up and my oldest ones move on. I also want to say thank you to all the readers and followers who have read my blog over the years and shared their blogs with me - maybe now I will be able to visit your blogs more!

So this is goodbye for now. Who knows - maybe after a little time off I will feel like doing some promoting and start doing cover reveals and book blitzes again - or maybe if I fall in love with a book in my TBR pile I will give it a review and a shout out.  The thing that got me blogging in the first place will probably pull me back in next year as all the new challenges come out!  Who knows?  The reading world is my oyster!

Promo and Giveaway: As the World Dies Untold Tales by Rhiannon Frater

As the World Dies: Untold Tales

 by Rhiannon Frater 

Adult, Horror, Zombies

Synopsis Volume 1:

THE FIRST DAYS: AS THE WORLD DIES introduced Jenni and Katie and their harrowing journey to the makeshift fort in the Texas Hill Country. But theirs is not the only tale to be told. In the first volume of the AS THE WORLD DIES UNTOLD TALES experience three terrifying tales of those who are forced to face the unrelenting and hungry walking dead.

Deep in the Texas Hill Country, a man and his little dog takes refuge in a bed and breakfast located in the hills above a doomed town where an infested rescue center might unleash the hungry undead…

On a deserted highway slicing through the desolation of West Texas, a woman struggles to survive as she faces the horrifying aftermath of the rise of the zombies…

And finally, discover what happens on the first day to Katie’s beloved wife, Lydia, as the world dies…

THE FIRST DAYS: AS THE WORLD DIES introduced Jenni and Katie and their harrowing journey to the makeshift fort in the Texas Hill Country. FIGHTING TO SURVIVE: AS THE WORLD DIES continued their story as the two women joined the members of the makeshift fort in Ashley Oaks in the fight for survival against not only zombies, but the evil designs of bandits.

But theirs is not the only tale to be told.

In the second volume of the AS THE WORLD DIES UNTOLD TALES experience three terrifying tales of those who are forced to face the unrelenting and hungry walking dead.

In a nearby town Ken and Lenore have started their regular routine at Ken’s Beauty Salon. A terrible accident brings the undead plague to their front door and soon the best friends are scrambling to escape their overrun town…

Katarina is just finishing her shift at a roadside café when a badly injured man stumbles through the front door. She quickly realizes that to survive she must learn to kill…

And finally, a trapped family must face the fearsome truth that sometimes zombies are not the worst monster they have to fear as the world dies…

In the third volume of the AS THE WORLD DIES UNTOLD TALES experience three terrifying tales of those who are forced to face the unrelenting and hungry walking dead.

Returning to Texas after celebrating his divorce in Vegas, Rune, a biker cursed with the ability to see ghosts, discovers that the world is being taken over by the hungry undead. Soon he realizes he will have to depend on all his abilities to survive not only the ravenous zombies, but the dangerous men lurking on the back roads of Texas.

Senator Paige Brightman abandoned the Madison Mall and its inhabitants to the hungry hordes, but her journey did not end there. Her attempt to reach the president’s safe haven called Central has far reaching ramifications for her and the people she abandoned.

The final in the three stories reveals the aftermath of the great battle in SIEGE as one woman faces the ultimate decision whether to live or die in a world of the undead.

Purchase Links: 

  

About the author: Rhiannon Frater is the award-winning author of over a dozen books, including the As the World Dies zombie trilogy (Tor) , as well as independent works such as The Last Bastion of the Living (declared the #1 Zombie Release of 2012 by Explorations Fantasy Blog and the #1 Zombie Novel of the Decade by B&N Book Blog),and other horror novels. Her next novel for Tor, Dead Spots, will be published in 2014. She was born and raised a Texan and presently lives in Austin, Texas with her husband and furry children (a.k.a pets).  She loves scary movies, sci-fi and horror shows, playing video games, cooking, dying her hair weird colors, and shopping for Betsey Johnson purses and shoes.  

Author Links:
Website / Facebook / Twitter / Blog / Pinterest / gmail



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Cover Reveal: Beneath Manhattan Skies by Emma Meade

Beneath Manhattan Skies

 by Emma Meade 
Publication date: November 2013
New Adult, Paranormal, Romance

November in New York is cold but full of possibility for college freshman Erin Harris. When her twin brother, Nick, shows up on her doorstep for a surprise visit, Erin is delighted. Unfortunately, Nick’s arrival coincides with the discovery of a body outside her apartment building, a body drained of blood. Right away, Nick assumes vampires are involved. He’s not exactly their biggest fan since Erin dated one in high school.

Juggling nosy roommates, a first date with a gorgeous guy from college and a brother on a Van Helsing kick is enough to keep any nineteen year old girl busy – And then Erin’s old flame walks back into her life.

Is Erin destined to be caught up in supernatural shenanigans, or will she choose a different path?

(A 45,000 word Novella).

AUTHOR BIO: Emma Meade writes paranormal fiction. She lives in rainy Ireland and loves all things supernatural. Stephen King's The Stand is one of her most loved books and she's lost count of the number of times she's read L.J. Smith's trilogy, The Forbidden Game.

Books, DVDS & TV show boxsets take up lots of space in her home and she collects all the Point Horror books she can get her hands on.

She is not ashamed to admit that Dirty Dancing and Twilight make her top ten movie list but wishes to point out that The Last of the Mohicans, Reality Bites, Dead Poets Society, Stand by Me and The Goonies are in there too.

Writing supernatural stories & watching marathon re-runs of Buffy are some of her favourite ways of escaping reality.

Author Links:
Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

Cover Reveal: Entrusted by Connie Ann Michael

Entrusted

Connie Ann Michael

Young Adult Paranormal

Release Date: 18 November, 2013

Thrust into a world of Native American legends about Skinwalkers and Ancient Ones, Emma Hunter finds herself in the middle of a battle for a heart holding great powers – A heart hidden within her.

Seventeen-year-old Emma wants what every teenage girl wants: a life that revolves around school, her friends, and a boyfriend who only has eyes for her. Little does she know that in order to get one, she must sacrifice the other two. After a series of events put into motion by Luke, the boy she thought loved her, Emma is kicked out of her group home and her school. Her best friend mysteriously vanishes and now she’s forced to move to a secluded coastal town, where she hopes to escape Luke’s obsessive control.  Instead, she finds her dreams invaded not only by Luke, but Solomon, a mysterious Native American warrior sent to protect her. 

But when Solomon shows up in her reality to explain he’s her protector, she soon learns that he’s so much more. As Emma struggles to understand what’s happening to her, she must also deal with her undeniable attraction to Solomon. Their connection is stronger than anything Emma has ever experienced before and now she must decide: can she trust him with her heart? And just how far will she go to protect it?

About the author:  Connie Ann Michael was raised a city girl, but was converted to a country girl after college and now resides in a speck of a town in Central Washington State.  She is married to her former boss as she worked at the local Pizza place and has two college age boys that provide endless material for her books.  She loves the outdoors and can be found mountain biking, kayaking, or camping with her family.  Being a busy family, she can be found working on her newest novel while on long road trips.

Author Links: 
Website / Facebook / Twitter / Google + / Goodreads

Haunted Open House Giveaway Blog Hop (Oct 23 - 30)

Welcome to the Haunted Open House Giveaway Blog Hop hosted by Nancy Gideon!

I love love love scary books!  When I was a teen we didn't have a YA/Teen section, so I was left reading Stephen King and John Saul in junior high and high school.  I was probably the only 8th grader with a membership to Doubleday Book Club (remember that?) just to get the latest Stephen King book!  Some of my favorites were The Shining, Cujo, It and from John Saul - Suffer the Children, Punish the Sinners, Cry for the Strangers, and When the Wind Blows. I couldn't get enough of them!  

These days, of course, you have all the paranormal authors filling in the YA shelves like Maggie Stiefvater, Kiersten White, Cassandra Clare, Melissa de la Cruz.  I still think that Stephen King is the "King" of Horror though and haven't found an author I like better, so for my giveaway, I am offering any book from Book Depository under $15.00 by my favorite, Stephen King - or a horror/paranormal book that is by your favorite author.  The giveaway is open to anyone anywhere that Book Depository will ship.

So enter my giveaway through the rafflecopter below - and then check out all the other great giveaways in the hop!

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Book Review and Giveaway: Twisted by KayCee R

Title: Twisted
Author: KayCee R

About the book: Cayden Rivers wants nothing more than to be normal, but we don’t always get what we want. For years he has been hiding a secret, afraid of being labeled a “freak”. Every day he goes to school, plays football, spends time with his girlfriend, and helps carry his drunken adopted father to bed. Nobody knows the truth about his unnatural speed and strength, including his life-long friend Camilla.

Suddenly, four strangers enter Cayden’s life, and not only do they know his secret, they also have one of their own. With their help, Cayden discovers there is more to his power, something much more dangerous. Something other people will kill to possess.

Camilla wishes her parents were around more. She gets lonely sleeping in her big empty house night after night. Sure, she has all the money she could ever need, but the only person who is there for her is Cayden. He has his own family and a girlfriend who takes up most of his time, so Camilla knows he won’t be there for her forever, and recently he’s been acting really strange.

Will Cayden be able to keep his secret and his friendship with Camilla, or will his new found power destroy everything, including his own life?

Switching between Cayden and Camilla's point of view, Twisted will leave you aching for more.

Purchase Links:

 

My thoughts: I must admit that to me this book started out kind of slow.  I nearly put it down as I didn't think I was going to be able to stick with it.  But I did and am glad.  Once it picked up I became invested in the characters a bit more. 

Cayden seemed like a sweetheart, even though I think he was a little dense when it came to his love life.  He did seem to mature in other ways during the course of the story though.  He went from having to keep the largest part of his life a secret to being able to share it with his family and close friend. Along the way though he finds family he never knew he had as well as discovers new powers.  He finds out that he may have enemies because of these powers, so it is even more important to keep them hidden. 

I liked the relationship between Cayden and Camilla.  The strong friendship and how they are both fighting feelings for each other that run deeper. 

Even with the slow start, the book picked up and once rolling along kept up the speed.  I would probably pick up the second book in the series as there is still a lot about Cayden and his family that remains a mystery.  

~I received a complimentary eCopy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.~

About the author: KayCee is a 24 year old self-published author from Cleveland, Ohio. KayCee has always loved reading. After a re-occurring dream she decided to try writing about it. She wrote the first installment of Twisted when she was 20.

“I kept having this dream about these twins, and then I just decided to run with it. I wrote the beginning, the end, and then filled in the middle.”

KayCee finished the book in 8 months and then decided to share the book online. After seeing people get interested in the book and the characters, she decided to write another book and turn Twisted into a series.

KayCee has finished four novels in the Twisted series and is currently working on the fifth book.

Author Links:

Twitter / Facebook / BookRix

Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 11/4/13

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Tour Schedule