Romance Reading Challenge

The Romance Reading Challenge is hosted by Royal Reviews and this year it is be a little different with more options for lovers of Romance novels like me. This challenge includes all sub genres of Romance i.e. paranormal, young adult, historical etc. So this should me plenty of options.

 

There are four levels:

 

-- Curious – Read 3 Romance Fiction novels.

-- Fascinated – Read 6 Romance Fiction novels.

-- Addicted – Read 12 Romance Fiction novels.

-- Obsessed – Read 20 Romance Fiction novels.

What's in a Name Challenge

What's in a Name Challenge

Hosted by Beth F.

January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010

A book with a food in the title:

A book with a body of water in the title:

A book with a title (queen, president) in the title:

A book with a plant in the title:

A book with a place name (city, country) in the title:

A book with a music term in the title:

2010 Chick Lit Challenge

 2010 Chick Lit Challenge
Hosted by The Twiga Blog

The Chick Lit Challenge 2010 runs from January 1 - December 31st. The goal is to read at least 8 chick lit books during the year. Books can be listed ahead of time or as you go along. Books can also be used for multiple challenges.

To participate, please sign up by commenting on this post. There will be a separate post for you to comment with your book review links.

My book list:
1. Lipstick Jungle by Candace Bushnell
2. Confessions of a Beauty Addict by Nadine Haobsh and Nadine Jolie 
3. Good Things by Mia King
4. A Black Tie Affair by Sherril Bodine
5.
6.
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Review: Cemetery Gates by MaryAnn Paige

Cemetery Gates by MaryAnn Paige
Publisher: BookSurge Publishing
Paperback: 320 pages
Genre: Horror
Rating: 3.5/5

Michael seeks redemption for his part in trying to destroy mankind during The Black Plague. He must battle his own brother, Shane, for the sake of mankind and the woman they both love but Shane is not backing down easily. He will force Michael and others to help him fulfill the prophecy.

Cemetery Gates was a unique read with lots of action between the battling brothers and was really creepy the way the characters could morph into each other and send shivers down my spine like what happens when I watch horror movies.

I must say it was a little confusing at times though keeping up with who Marisa was actually supposed to be with and I never did understand the significance of her mother and sister in the story. I realize they were just pawns in the ultimate plan but other than that I never understood what their real purpose was.

All in all this was a good book and held my interest with all the action going on thru-out that it over clouded the few parts that confused me.

Review Copy provided by Author

New Years Read-a-thon

Sponsored by Kristen at

Bookworming in the 21st Century

Now, what is the Read-a-thon all about? Promoting reading in the new year - 2010!

Starts: 5 pm on Thursday, December 31st

Ends: 10 pm on Sunday, January 3rd

You can read as little or as much as you want!  Gather more details and sign up link is HERE

Upcoming Reviews

Review: Love Finds You in Lonesome Prairie, Montana

Love Finds You in Lonesome Prairie, Montana by Tricia Goyer and Ocieanna Fleiss

Genre: Christian Romance

Publisher: Summerside Press

Pages: 348
Rating 5/5

Tricia Goyer is the author of several books, including Night Song and Dawn of a Thousand Nights, both past winners of the ACFW's Book of the Year Award for Long Historical Romance. Goyer lives with her family in Montana.

 

 

Ocieanna Fleiss is a published writer and has edited six of Tricia Goyer's historical novels. She lives with her husband and their four children in the Seattle area.

 

Julia is supposed to travel West to deliver children safely to adopting families along the orphan trail and then the plan was for her to turn around and come back home to New York but as plans usually dont go quite as expected neither did this one!

 

She finds she has been sold as a mail order bride and her return home ticket is invalid. Now distraut with no friends, money, or place to go she turns to the local pastor Issac for help and guidance. His family takes her in until all can get sorted out and they try to hook up the pastor with Ms Julia but the pastor has vowed to the Lord to never wed because he is on the road so much and doesn't want to leave a wife home alone on the prairie.

 

I was really pleased with the feel and atmosphere of Love Finds You in Lonesome Prairie Montana. The writing was so smooth and flowing it was like I was really there out in the west with Julia.  So many times I found myself laughing out loud over a few predicaments she got into especially when she was learning to milk the cow and the milk shot into the cats eye!

 

This was a fun light romance and I truly enjoyed it and would recommend it to anybody looking for a soft and fun loving western romance.  I also adored how each page was stamped at the top with a little postage stamp!  That was so neat!

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The authors, Tricia and Ocieanna, have put together one humdinger of a contest for this blog tour! Enter the Fall in Love With Lonesome Prairie Contest and WIN a perty Montana Gift Basket!

To enter, simply fill out the entry form (http://www.triciagoyer.com/contest.html ), (then tell 5 or more friends about the contest)! The winner will be announced December 14th, just in time for an old-fashioned Montana Christmas. Giddy-up!

The Winner of our ‘Fall in Love with Lonesome Prairie’ giveaway will receive a fantastic Montana Gift Basket, including:

*Winter fleece throw

*Huckleberry chocolate bar

*Paula Dean candle

*Burt’s Bees gift set

*Wild Huckleberry taffy

*Montana stationary notebook

*Montana greeting card set

*Montana ball cap

*Montana apron

*Montana refrigerator magnet

*Charlie Russell 2010 Montana Calendar

2010 Debut Author (2) Rachel Hawkins

Kristi of Story Siren has an awesome challenge coming up for 2010 called 2010 Debut Author Challenge. In preparation of that I thought I would highlight a few on my list that I cant wait to read!

 

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

 

Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.

As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.

2010 Debut Author (1) Christy Raedeke

Kristi of Story Siren has an awesome challenge coming up for 2010 called 2010 Debut Author Challenge. In preparation of that I thought I would highlight a few on my list that I cant wait to read!

 

Check out the site Prophecy of Days 

 

PROPHECY OF DAYS, BOOK ONE: THE DAYKEEPER’S GRIMOIRE by Christy Raedeke

 is the story of Caity Mac Fireland, a girl from San Francisco whose parents drag her to an isle off the coast of Scotland to manage some family property. Caity finds that a Mayan relic is concealed there, intentionally left centuries ago by Mayan Daykeepers in an attempt to keep their profound knowledge about the year 2012 alive into the current era.

As she delves into this world of secret knowledge, Caity is helped along by a visiting family friend and Feng Shui master, Uncle Li; a Mayan elder named Bolon; and Mr. Papers, her pet monkey that communicates through origami. A handsome Scottish lad gets pulled into the intrigue, as do several other people with questionable motives and loyalties. Caity must weave together a tapestry of information in order to make her radical discovery, a mystery protected by an elite coterie of power-brokers who influence world events. Caity’s twenty-first century mind is put to the test as she tries to uncover the answer to an ancient riddle while trying to outwit this powerful group that will stop at nothing to control the secret, and her.

Which to Keep, Which to Give?

Okay so I been wondering about how do ya'll decide which books to keep in your permanent collections and which books to swap, trade, give away, ect...

 

Obviously if you didn't like the book your probably gonna toss it or pass it on but what if it is part of a series you are collecting or want to collect?  Do you split up the set and only keep the ones you like?

 

Do you keep one genre and give away another?

 

Just out of curiosity....What are the determining factors in whether you keep, swap, or giveaway a book?

 

Review: For the Love of St Nick by Garasamo Maccagnone

For the Love of St Nick by Garasamo Maccagnone

Publisher: BookSurge Publishing

Paperback: 46 pages
Genre: Holiday Fiction
Rating 4/5

The commanders wife died while giving birth to their second son, Johnny. Johnny was a sickly child and caught most any bug or virus known in his young life. While the boys were still very young they had to move away to be closer to the commanders base in Michigan and then shortly after that he was sent on a mission but promised to be home by Christmas.

While in town shopping in a snow storm, the boys caregiver phones to check up on them and discovers little Johnny is running a high fever and she is having a hard time getting back to them to help. Tiger does everything he has been taught to try to bring the fever down and nothing is working and Johnny starts talking about he is seeing their mother and he wasn't afraid to die.

Not knowing anything else to do Tiger drops everything and bows his head in prayer to St Nick, whom he often prayed to along with the other saints, and Jesus.

This is a true heart warming story of love. I enjoyed reading it and it really puts the perspective back to the true meanings of Christmas.

Review Copy Provided by Author.

Take The Journey 2010 Challenge

This awesome challenge is being hosted by Lynda from Between The Pages.  To sign up go HERE

Join me, and let’s make 2010 the year we and others celebrate the World of Books.

Challenge Guidelines: This challenge isn’t designed to be easy, so the weak-at-heart may want to exit by the side door. For those of you who are still here, let’s get started.

A. Challenge ends on December 15, 2010. Your goal is to accumulate as many points as you can during 2010. Best of success to everyone. I can't wait to begin. All points must be accrued from Jan 1 - Dec 15, 2010. Anything you've read for other challenges in 2010 can also be used in the Take The Journey Challenge as well. I believe this is fair and allows participants to enjoy more than one challenge at a time.)

1. Read 40 or more books by new authors you’ve never read before. (Each book read =4 points)
2. Read 20 or more books by some of your favorite authors. (Each book read = 2 points)
3. Read 3 or more new genres you’ve never tried before. (Each genre = 2 points)
4. Post 12 or more reviews at any site of your choice. (Each review posted = 3 points)
5. Give 1 or more books as gifts during the year. (Each book gift = 2 points)
6. Read 1 or more books to a child (Each book read = 3 points)
7. Read something to an older person, or anyone whose eyesight prevents them from reading for themselves.
(Each reading session = 3 Points)
8. Share this reading challenge with a friend. (Each friend that joins the challenge = 3 points)
9. Attended a book event, such as a book signing, book fair, book reading, etc. (Each event = 5 points)


4 pointers

01) The Good Girl's Guide to Getting Kidnapped by Yxta Maya Murray

02) Wereling by Steve Feasey

03) Wench by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

04)Nailed by Jennifer Laurens

05)H.E.A.V.E.N. by Nan Becklean

06)A Black Tie Affair by Sherrill Bodine

07)