2016 Dystopia Reading Challenge

Dystopia is one of my favorite genres to read, so joining this challenge was a no brainer for me.  It is hosted by Tracy @ Cornerfolds and Claudia @ My Soul Called Life.   

Some rules: 

• There are badges that you will receive for completing each level of the challenge. 
• Quarterly Giveaways
• Dystopia prompts (optional) and review links. 
• Monthly Dystopia Newsletter. 

Levels:

1. Recruit (1-5 books)
2. Rebel (6-10 books)
3. Revolutionist (11-15 books)
4. Leader (16+ books)

I am gonna try to be a Rebel!

Important Dates:

• March 25th - First Quarter Update & Giveaway
• June 24th - Second Quarter Update & Giveaway
• September 30th - Third Quarter Update & Giveaway
• December 30th - Challenge Wrap-Up & Giveaway

Monthly Linkups

• January

Dystopian Book Lists

• Best Dystopian & Post-Apocalyptic Fiction
• Best YA Dystopia Novels

2016 TBR Pile Reading Challenge

My TBR pile was so huge, that I had to clean them out and pass some on without reading them last fall.  I packed up and donated 15 boxes of books -- yes, that was not a typo - 15 boxes...  And in looking at all the books I still have, you wouldn't know I got rid of any.  (Hint to husband -- more shelves. . .)

Anyway, this challenge is to read those TBR books that are still collecting dust in various places in my house.  It is being hosted by Evie @ Bookish Lifestyle.

Some rules I wanted to note:

• There will be a wrap up post every other month on the last Monday of that month. 
• There will be giveaways but you must follow Bookish to enter.
• Use #2016TBRPile in messages. 
• They are also having a TBR Pile Book Club, but you do not have to join it to do their challenge. 

Levels: 

• 1-10 A Firm Handshake
• 11-20 A Friendly Hug
• 21-30 First Kiss
• 31-40 Sweet Summer Fling
• 41-50 Could This Be Love?
• 50+ Married with Children

I will be attempting the first level only - as new releases don't count, I will be doing those this year as well. 

Cover Reveal: Heartland by Sara Walter Ellwood

Title: Heartland 

Author: Sara Walter Ellwood 

Publisher: Lyrical Shine 

Genre: Contemporary Romance 

Format: Ecopy

Sex, drugs, and country music. That was the lifestyle for Emily Kendall, a Texas girl who hit it big on the country music charts--until she found herself pregnant and battling addiction. Now out of rehab and seeking a new life for herself and her unborn child, Emily returns to her hometown of McAllister. The last thing she's looking for is trouble, no matter how good it looks in uniform. . .

A widower, single father, and former Army Ranger struggling with PTSD, Sheriff EJ Cowley has his own demons to battle while keeping folks safe. The last thing he needs is a troubled celebrity speeding through town in her bright red Mazerati. But when someone from Emily's past threatens her safety and the peace of McAllister, EJ has no choice but to protect her. And soon both will learn there's more to the other than meets the eye. And that wounded hearts can love again. . .

 

About the author: Although Sara Walter Ellwood has long ago left the farm for the glamour of the big town, she draws on her experiences growing up on a small hobby farm in West Central Pennsylvania to write her contemporary westerns. She’s been married to her college sweetheart for over 20 years, and they have two teenagers and one very spoiled rescue cat named Penny. She longs to visit the places she writes about and jokes she’s a cowgirl at heart stuck in Pennsylvania suburbia. Sara Walter Ellwood is a multi-published and international Amazon bestselling author of the anthology set Cowboy Up. 

She also writes paranormal romantic suspense under the pen name of Cera duBois.

 

Tour Schedule

Author C.A. Milson 

Extreme Bookaholics

Books and Needlepoint

Authors and Readers Book Corner

Around the World in Books

Bitten by Romance

Alpha Book Club

Born to Read Books

Teatime and Books

E-Romance News

Reads and Reviews

I'm Shelf-ish

Harmonious Publicity

The Review From Here

A Title Wave

The Dark Phantom

  

COVER REVEAL: In the After by Elisa Dane

In the After

Published by: Swoon Romance

Publication date: February 2nd 2016

Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult

     Sadie Reynolds is a liar with secrets. At school, she’s part of the popular crowd known as AE, despite being broken inside. She hides it well. She has to. The slightest bit of imperfection will land her in the same shoes as her Geeky neighbor named Ian.
     Ian and his only friend are the object of Sadie’s friends’ ridicule, ire, and entertainment. The AE rule the school with intimidation and retribution against anyone who would dare question their supremacy.
     Sadie steers clear of most of it, terrified someone will find out her secret. She isn’t the least bit perfect. In fact, she suffers from PTSD stemming from the murder of her mother right before her eyes when she was a child. She can barely cope from day-to-day, hiding her truth and trying to fit in. But she knows it’s only a matter of time.
     Hayden is a “Waverly,” a kid with the misfortune of living in the small farming town of Waverly that borders the very affluent Lexington Parrish. The AE doesn’t mix with “Waverlies.” Ever.
     Desperate to get away from her oppressive friends, Sadie crashes into Hayden at a bonfire and the attraction that sparks between them is nothing short of electric. But Hayden’s an outsider and when things heat up, Sadie will be forced to choose between her friends and her new boyfriend.
Only Queen Bee Britt isn’t having it. She will not allow Sadie to cross her. Sadie can either do what Britt wants her to do or she will reveal Sadie for the PTSD freak that she is.
     Sadie does some soul searching about who she is and who she wants to be. She can’t live her life like this. Not any more. One fateful night will help her see how much things have to change.
     She’s determined to no longer allow the AE to rule her life. She will be strong, stand up for Ian and love who she wants in Hayden. Determined and invigorated, Sadie goes to school feeling hopeful for the first time in forever.
But, the unthinkable happens.
     Shooters attack dozens of students before the two eventually take their own lives, leaving the school a decimated shadow of what it once was.
Suddenly who lives where, wears what or loves whom seems like the least of Lexington Parish’s problems as everyone and everything changes forever in the after.

IN THE AFTER by Elisa Dane is a hard-hitting and heart-warming story of tragedy, love, loss and redemption. It is recommended for readers 14+.

Add to Goodreads

Author Bio:

     ELISA DANE is a self-proclaimed book junkie. A lover of handbags, chocolate, and reality television, she's a proud mother to three All- Star cheerleaders. Writing is her absolute passion, and it's her mission to create stories that will not only take you on a romantic journey that will warm your heart, but help you find a new respect and interest in the sport of All-Star cheerleading.
     Elisa is no stranger to the publishing world. She writes steamy paranormal romance under her real name, Lisa Sanchez. Her adult works include the Hanford Park series (Eve Of Samhain, Pleasures Untold, and Faythe Reclaimed), Obsessed (an erotic suspense), and a paranormal novella, Cursing Athena. Elisa lives in Northern California with her husband, three daughters, and a feisty Chihuahua who stubbornly believes she's human.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

Hosted by:

Finishing the Series Challenge

The goal of this challenge is to complete a series - starting from where ever you are - up until the last published book.  

(Challenge is hosted by Bea's Book Nook.)

Level 1 (Novice series reader) - Complete 1 series.
Level 2 (Testing the waters) - Complete 2 -4 series.
Level 3 (Experienced) - Complete 3 - 6 series.
Level 4 (Expert series reader) - Complete 7 or more series.

Series that I am currently in the middle of:

The Singular Menace - John Sanford - I have read the first book, Uncaged.

Undertow - Michael Buckley - I have read the first book, Undertow.

Nil - Lynne Matson - I have read the first two books, Nil and Nil Unlocked.

The Enemy - Charles Higson - I have read the first two books, The Enemy and The Dead.

Worldwalker - Josephine Angelini - I have read the first book - Trial by Fire.

Ship  Breaker - Paolo Bacigalupi - I have read the first book - Ship Breaker.

Wolves of Mercy Falls - Maggie Stiefvator - I have read the first book, Shiver.

Monument 14 - Emmy Laybourne - I have read the first book - Monument 14. 

Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children - Ransom Riggs - I have read the first book, Miss Peregrine's                         Home for Peculiar Children.

New Release Challenge

This challenge is to read books that were published in 2016. There will be monthly update posts that you can link too, and each quarter - the end of March, June, September and December, there will be a giveaway with the update as well. 

(Challenge hosted  by (un)Conventional BookViews and Books, Movies, Reviews! Oh My!)

Levels: 

1-15 books per year – New Release Newbie

16-30 books per year – New Release Pro

31-45 books per year – New Release Veteran

45+ books per year – New Release Enthusiast

I am just going to be a New Release Newbie for this challenge. 

1. Brotherhood in Death by J.D. Robb

2. Only Love Can Break Your Heart by Ed Tarkington

3. Orhan's Inheritance by Aline Ohanesian

4. How Willa Got Her Groove Back by Emily McKay

5. Love Me Love Me Not by Alyxandra Harvey
6. Into the Dim by Janet B. Taylor

Newbery Reading Challenge

For this challenge, you just need to read Newbery Medal Winners, Newbery Honor Books or Caldecott Medal Winners.  Each book has a different point value and you pick your level based on the number of points you think you can earn.  (This challenge is hosted by Smiling Shelves)

List of Newbery Books
List of Caldecott Books

Point Values:

• 3 points for a Newbery Medal Winner
• 2 points for a Newbery Honor Book
• 1 point for a Caldecott Medal Winner (Gotta give the picture books some love, too.)

Levels:

L'Engle: 15 - 29 points

Spinelli: 30 - 44 points

Avi: 45 - 59 points

Lowry: 60 - 74 points

Konigsburg: 75+ points

I'm going to play it easy and go for L'Engle Level.

How Do YA Readers Make New Year's Resolutions?

Do you/did you make any resolutions?  I would love to hear them.  What is your favorite YA resolution from the video?

Pop Sugar's 2016 Ultimate Reading Challenge

This one is easy - read a variety of books - and check off the boxes as you read them! 

 Join the challenge at Pop Sugar!

1. A book based on a fairy tale - Love Me Love Me Not 
2. A National Book Award winner 
3.  A YA bestseller
4.  A book you haven't read since high school
5.  A book set in your home state
6.  A book translated to English
7.  A romance set in the future
8. A book set in Europe - Into the Dim 
9.  A book that's under 150 pages
10.  A New York Times bestseller
11.  a book that's becoming a movie this year
12.  A book recommended by someone you just met
13.  A self-improvement book
14.  A book you can finish in a day
15.  A book written by a celebrity
16.  A political memoir
17.  A book at least 100 years older than you
18.  A book that's more than 600 pages
19. A book from Oprah's Book club 
20.  A science fiction novel
21.  A book recommended by a family member
22.  A graphic novel
23.  A book published in 2016 - Brotherhood in Death
24.   A book with a protagonist who has your occupation
25.  A book that takes place during summer
26. A book and its prequel 
27. A murder mystery 
28. A book written by a comedian 
29. A dystopian novel 
30. A book with a blue cover - Only Love Can Break Your Heart 
31. A book of poetry
32.  The first book you see in a bookstore
33.  A classic from the 20th century
34. A Book from the library - Goat Mountain 
35.  An autobiography
36. A book about a road trip 
37. A Book about a culture you are unfamiliar with - Orhan's Inheritance 
38. A satirical book 
39. A book that takes place on an island 
40. A book that's guaranteed to bring you joy 

Let's Talk Book Challenges

The start of the year always brings with it a myriad of challenges across the book blogger world -- and who doesn't like a challenge?

I always start out all gung-ho (do they still say  gung-ho?) and sign up for lots of challenges, because of course, crossovers are allowed, so why not go for them all?  This momentum lasts for a couple of months during a good year, starts to wane around March, sometimes with an upsurge in June and by September -- fuggedaboutit!

So this year I decided that I would be more choosey in the challenges that I signed up for.  I scrolled through the list at A Novel Challenge and with a very discerning eye began to make a list of those that I would like to participate in this year.  I told myself that I was not going to over do it.  I.Was.Not.Going.To.Over.Do.It.  Well, I completed the list and counted them up. . . and. .. I HAVE 2 MORE CHALLENGES THAN I DID LAST YEAR!!!  OMG!

So prepare yourself for a barrage of blog posts over the next week, as they will each get a mention here as a place to keep my list of books that I complete for each challenge.  For as Barney says: