Books and Needlepoint

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

2016 Alphabet Soup Reading Challenge

Shared by Kristi

This is always a fun challenge as most of your books will fit this one! You can drop the A's and The's from the beginning of the title.

Each Letter Counts As 1 Spoonful

The first main word needs to start with the letter you are using for the challenge. Q, X and Z can be found anywhere in the title though.

a
b - Brotherhood in Death by J.D. Robb
c
d
e
f
g - Goat Mountain by David Vann
h - How Willa Got Her Groove Back by Emily McKay
i - Into the Dim by Janet B. Taylor
j
k
l - Love Me, Love Me Not by Alyxandra Harvey
m
n
o - Orhan's Inheritance by Aline Ohanesian
p
q
r
s
t
u
v
w
x
y
z

2016 Monthly Motif Reading Challenge

Shared by Kristi

For this challenge, each month is assigned a certain motif or theme. Your task is to read one book per month that fits in with the motif for that particular month. It is hosted by Tanya at GirlXOXO.

There will be a linky put up the beginning of each month that will remain open until the 10th day of the following month.

The Motifs

JANUARY- Who Dunnit?
Crack the case and solve the mystery with your first book of the year.
Brotherhood in Death by J.D. Robb

FEBRUARY- New Releases
Read a book released in the last year.
Orhan's Inheritance by Aline Ohanesian

MARCH- Take a Trip
Time Travel or read a book set in a country different than where you live
Into the Dim by Janet B. Taylor

APRIL- Best of the Best
Read a book that has won recognition or a literary award

MAY- Story of Survival
Make it out alive, beat the odds, save yourself stories. Try thinking beyond the typical wilderness survival. Surviving high school? Surviving a family road trip? Yep- those count too! PS. Dystopians would work great in this motif too.

JUNE- Girlxoxo Recommends
We’ve read a lot of great books. Check out our archives and pick one of our recommendations off our book lists.

JULY- LOL
Hilarious memoirs, silly chick lit, comedic scifi. Pick a book that is guaranteed to make you laugh out loud.

AUGUST- Genre Jumble
Read from a genre that you don’t normally read from

SEPTEMBER- Steampunk, Science Fiction, and Fantasy
Pretty self explanatory and loads of great books to pick from in this motif.

OCTOBER- Things That Go Bump in The Night
Cozy mystery ghost stories, paranormal creeptastic, murder mystery- it’s up to you!

NOVEMBER- Fiction Takes A Break
It’s all about Nonfiction November this month!

DEC- That’s a Wrap
Finish a series you’ve been meaning to finish or read the next book in a series you started but never finished.

2016 Dystopia Reading Challenge

Shared by Kristi

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:

Recruit (1-5 books)
Rebel (6-10 books)
Revolutionist (11-15 books)
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

2016 TBR Pile Reading Challenge

Shared by Kristi

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.

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Cover Reveal: Heartland by Sara Walter Ellwood

Shared by Unknown

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.

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Monday, January 11, 2016

COVER REVEAL: In the After by Elisa Dane

Shared by Kristi

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+.

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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.