November 2013 - Monthly Wrap Up

Clip Art

I haven't been doing a monthly wrap up lately, but I'm trying to get back into the swing of things.  Here are the books I read in November...

Mayhem at the Orient Express by Kylie Logan
Just Add Spice by Carol E. Wyer
Joyfully Yours by Amy Lamont
Dare to Love by Carly Phillips
Murder, She Barked by Krista Davis
Catnapped by Patricia Fry
Whips, Cuffs, and Little Brown Boxes by Kathryn Long (Review to be posted next week.)

So that makes 7 books for November.  Not great, but not horrible either.

According to Goodreads, I've read 86 books.  My goal was 100 books for 2013.  I seriously doubt I will be getting there with only a month left to the year but that's okay.  I intend to set the same goal for next year and try again :)

As for my challenge status...

So far, for 2013, I completed these challenges:

2013 Romance Reading Challenge
What An Animal Reading Challenge VI
2013 ARC Reading Challenge
2013 Library Reading Challenge
2013 Ebook Challenge
Foodie's Read 2013 Reading Challenge
Cruisin' thru the Cozies Reading Challenge 2013 

These are the challenges I still have left...

2013 A to Z Reading Challenge (4 books left)
2013 Embarrassment of Riches TBR Reading Challenge (I signed up for 12 and haven't read any!)
2013 What's in a name Reading Challenge (Only 1 book left)
2013 Where Are You Reading? Challenge (23 out of 50 left)
2013 Why Buy the Cow? Challenge (10 left)
Finishing the Series Reading Challenge 2013 (2 left - I can't even complete my own challenge!)

There's only one of these challenges that I think I have a legitimate chance to complete - What's in a name - but I don't even think I'll complete that one.  Still, I'm not unhappy with what I've completed.  It's not perfect and only "so-so", but I had fun with these challenges and I'll be back again in 2014.  LOL

Now, hopefully I remember to do a December wrap up :)

Book Giveaway Winner!

The winner of an e-book version of Just Add Spice by Carol E. Wyer is:

Entry #13 Michele A.

Congrats to Michele!  

Thanks to all who participated!

The Friday 56

This is a fun meme to do hosted by Freda's Voice. If you'd like to join on the fun go to The Friday 56.

Rules:
*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader.
*Find any sentence that grabs you.
*Post it.
*Link it here.


It's that simple.

This week I'm reading...

Cat Thursday - Happy Thanksgiving!

Blog Tour: Dare to Love by Carly Phillips (Review/Interview/Giveaway!)

Waiting on Wednesday - November 27th

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

I'm very eagerly awaiting this book...

Murder, She Barked by Krista Davis (Review/Interview/Book Giveaway!)

Genre:
Cozy Mystery

Format:
Paperback

Publisher:
Berkley Prime Crime

Release Date:
December 2013

Teaser Tuesdays/First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday - November 26th

Every Tuesday Diane at Bibliophile By the Sea hosts First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros, where we share the first paragraph or (a few) of a book we are reading or thinking about reading soon. Care to join us?

If you'd like to play along on Teaser Tuesdays, just click the button above.


Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This week I'm reading...

Review: Catnapped by Patricia Fry

Genre:
Cozy Mystery

Format:
E-Book

Publisher:
Matilija Press

Release Date:
June 2013

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

This meme is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading is where we share what we read this past week, what we hope to read this week…. and anything in between! This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from!

Happy Monday Everyone!

A pretty good week for me...

The Sunday Salon/ The Sunday Post - November 24th

If you'd like to participate with The Sunday Salon, just click the button above.

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~ It's a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.

Blog Tour: Just Add Spice by Carol E. Wyer (Review, Guest Post and Giveaway!)

Just Add Spice
by Carol Wyer
on Tour November 2013

Book DetailsGenre: Romantic Comedy
Published by: Safkhet Soul
Publication Date: 25th July 2013
Number of Pages: 184
NOTE: Explicit sexual scenes
Purchase Links:    

 

 

 

 

 

Book Giveaway Winner!

The winner of an e-book version of A Secondhand Murder by Lesley A. Diehl is:

Entry #44 Suzan M.

Congrats to Suzan!  

Thanks to all who participated!

Follow Friday Four Fill In Fun Blog Hop – week 139

This is a fun meme and it's hosted by Hilary at Feeling Beachie. Check out her lovely blog, if you'd like to participate.


This week’s statements:

The Friday 56

This is a fun meme to do hosted by Freda's Voice. If you'd like to join on the fun go to The Friday 56.

Rules:
*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader.
*Find any sentence that grabs you.
*Post it.
*Link it here.


It's that simple.

This week I'm reading...

Cat Thursday - November 21st

Book Giveaway Winner

The winner of Mayhem At The Orient Express by Kylie Logan is:

Entry #136 Carol M.

Congrats to Carol!  

Thanks to all who participated!

Promo: The Blue Hair Club by Dan Lauria & Cathryn Farnsworth

America’s TV Dad Releases Children’s Book

Dan Lauria, star of “The Wonder Years,” teaches kids important life

lessons in new picture book

About the Book

Waiting on Wednesday - November 20th

It's been a long time since I did this meme, but here I am again.

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

I'm very eagerly awaiting this book...

Promo: SIA by Josh Grayson (Spotlight, Q&A)

Book Description

Blog Tour: Joyfully Yours by Amy Lamont (Amazon Giveaway!!!)

Genre:
Romance

Format:
E-Book

Publisher:
Amazon Digital Services

Release Date:
November 2013

Teaser Tuesdays/First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday - November 19th

Every Tuesday Diane at Bibliophile By the Sea hosts First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros, where we share the first paragraph or (a few) of a book we are reading or thinking about reading soon. Care to join us?

If you'd like to play along on Teaser Tuesdays, just click the button above.


Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This week I'm reading...

2014 Ebook Reading Challenge

Another challenge I loved and completed last year...

2014 Foodies Reading Challenge

This was one of the challenges I completed in 2013. I was hoping it would be back for 2014. It's hosted by I'd Rather Be At The Beach

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

This meme is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading is where we share what we read this past week, what we hope to read this week…. and anything in between! This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from!

Happy Monday Everyone!

Since I was away last week, I'm going to do a two week update this week...

The Sunday Salon/The Sunday Post - November 17th

If you'd like to participate with The Sunday Salon, just click the button above.

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~ It's a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.

2014 Netgalley Reading Challenge

I was so happy to see that someone is hosting this for next year.  Like the host, Ariel Avalon, I always see monthly challenges to catchup on Netgalley reviews but the timing was never right for me.  I really wanted a yearly challenge.  (Yes, I went a little crazy on the "request" button over at Negalley and now I'm desperate to catch up.  The point of this goal is to get our feedback rations closer to Netgalley's recommeded 80%.  I have a long way to go, but this will help me to focus a bit better.

I'm going for the 11-15 Hard level and will list my reads here:

1.  Zero-Degree Murder by M.L. Rowland (Click here for review.)

2.  Paws for Murder by Annie Knox (Click here for review.)

3. Murder with Ganache by Lucy Burdette (Click here to read review.)

4.  The Cat in the Window by Callie Smith Grant (Click here for review.)

5.  Tempting Fate by Jane Green (Click here for review.)

6.  Messenger by Craig Johnson (Click here for review.)

7.  Streak of Lightning by Clare O'Donohue (Click here for review.)

8.  Bloom and Doom by Beverly Allen (Click here for review.)

9. Mai Tai For Two by Delphine Dryden (Click here for review.)

10.  Guidebook to Murder by Lynn Cahoon (Click here for review.)


11.  Uncharted:  An On The Island Novella by Tracey Garves-Graves)

12.  Save the Date by Mary Kay Andrews (Click here for review.)

13.  The 1st Victim by Tami Hoag (Click here for review.)

14.  Confession Is Murder by Peg Cochran (Click here for review.)

15.  The White Magic Five and Dime by Steve Hockensmith (Click here for review.)

2014 TBR Pile Reading Challenge

This is a challenge I desperately need and desperately need to actually complete. I join a challenge like this every year and get nowhere...maybe this will be my year to complete it!  It's hosted by Bookish.

Here's the details...

Welcome to 2014 TBR Pile Reading Challenge!

We all have those books. We buy them, win them, they're gifted to us.. Then we put them up on a bookshelf and there they stay, collecting dust, waiting for the time when we'll finally decide to pick them up..

Join us on a quest to dust off your TBR Pile and read all the books you've been telling yourself you'll read next time you'll get a chance.. This is your chance! And we've got PRIZES!!! :D

Challenge Guidelines:

1. This challenge will run from Jan 1, 2014 - Dec 31, 2014.
2. Anyone can enter! You don't have to be a blogger, as long as you review the book you've read! (On your blog, Amazon, Random Buzzers or Goodreads/Shelfari!)
3. Any genre, length or format of book counts, as long as it is a book that's been sitting on your shelf for some time now. Short stories and novellas are OK, too! Only books released in 2013 and earlier! NO  2014 ARCs and 2014 fresh-off-the-press releases allowed!
4. You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap-up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood takes you.
5. When you sign up in the linky, put the direct link to your post about joining the 2013 TBRPILE Reading Challenge. (If you don't have a blog, post about it on Facebook or Tweet!)
6. You can move up levels, but no moving down.
7. Sign-ups will be open until Dec 15, 2014, so feel free to join at any time throughout the year.
8. On the 20th of each month we will post a wrap-up post, here, on BOOKISH. Every wrap-up will have it's unique theme, a mini-challenge, a giveaway and place for you to link up your reviews from this month. For each review you link up, you will get one entry in a drawing of one book of choice from Book Depository. It's open to INTERNATIONALS. The giveaway will be open until the next wrap up post goes up! (i.e. the entire month)
9. If you miss a wrap-up post + giveaway, you can link up your reviews next month. Do not, however, try to link up one review twice - we will be checking ;) 
10. December is a wrap-up for the whole year. All the book reviews you linked up January-November + the ones you'll link up in December will be entered into a GRAND PRIZE giveaway. 
11. You don't have to follow Bookish Blog to join the challenge, but you do have to follow us to be entered in giveaways!

Levels:

(how many books you're planning to read for this challenge in 2014)

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'm going for the "A Firm Handshake" level...

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I Love Library Books Reading Challenge 2014

I Love Library Books

Reading Challenge

2014

hosted by Book Dragon's Lair

I now begin signing up for reading challenges for 2014.  I'm not signing up for many, but I do enjoy this one.  I get my audios from the library, plus I plan to download some e-books.

Here's the details...


Our love of reading can be expensive! Not only are we purchasing books but some of us also need space to keep them. I had so much fun with this challenge last year. Let's do it again!

There are a number of levels, for those who don't have a library card yet to those that live there. Enjoy!

Requirements:

choose a level - you may move up as needed, just not down.
check books out of the library
books may overlap with other challenges
any format allowed (print, ebook, audio)
reviews are not necessary but a list of books read is. (post with review linky is coming)
a blog is not necessary, just comment that you want to join in.


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

I'm signing up for Picture Book Level and will read 6 books...

1.  Seriously...I'm Kidding by Ellen DeGeneres (Click here for review.)

2.  Dearly Devoted Dexter by Jeff Lindsay (Click here for review.)

3.  Orange is the New Black by Piper Kerman (Click here for review.)

4. Whiskey Beach by Nora Roberts (Click here for review.)

5. 10th Anniversary by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro (Click here for review.)

6.  Murder Most Frothy by Cleo Coyle (Click here for review.)

Blog Tour: A Secondhand Murder by Lesley A. Diehl (Review/Interview/Book Giveaway!)

A Secondhand Murder

by Lesley Diehl

on Tour October 1 - November 30, 2013

Book Giveaway Winner!

The winner of an ebook of Relative Danger by June Shaw is:

Entry #22 Betty D

Congrats to Betty!  

Thanks to all who participated!

Follow Friday Four Fill In Fun Blog Hop – week 138

This is a fun meme and it's hosted by Hilary at Feeling Beachie. Check out her lovely blog, if you'd like to participate.


This week’s statements:

Mayhem at the Orient Express by Kylie Logan (Review, Interview and Giveaway!)

Genre:
Cozy Mystery

Format:
Paperback

Publisher:
Penguin Group (USA) LLC

Release Date:
June 2013

Cover Reveal: Wear You Down by Rucy Ban (Giveaway!)

Cat Thursday - November 14th

Blog Tour: Dangerous Attraction - Romantic Suspense Boxed Set

Blog Tour: Relative Danger (A Cealie Gunther Mystery, #1) by June Shaw (Review, Guest Post, Giveaway!)

Genre:
Cozy Mystery

Format:
E-Book

Publisher:
Untreed Publishing

Release Date:
July 2013

Blog Tour: Yours to Keep by Serena Bell