Books to Read in April

Total Number Read: 15

Audiobooks:
The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larrson
Just Imagine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips*
Club Dead by Charlaine Harris
Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
The Evolution of God by Robert Wright
The Art Detective by Philip Mould

Library Books:
Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
Born to Darkness by Suzanne Brockmann*
Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins
Paris in Love by Eloisa James
Something About You by Julie James

AOTM/Challenges:
Always Time to Die by Elizabeth Lowell
Dance of Seduction by Sabrina Jeffries*
Stolen by Kelly Armstrong

New Series:
Assassin's Honor by Monica Burns
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Firelight by Kristen Callihan

Continuing Series:
An Affair Without End by Candace Camp*
Heartless by Gail Carriger
Everyday, Average Jones by Suzanne Brockmann*
Lover Revealed by J. R. Ward
Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs*
River Marked by Patricia Briggs
Unclaimed by Courtney Milan

Stand-Alones/Non-Fiction
Unfamiliar Fishes by Sarah Vowell

Reading Now:

Unfamiliar Fishes by Sarah Vowell

Read: 

Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs

Just Imagine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Assassin's Honor by Monica Burns
People Having Sex by Freida Wright
Club Dead by Charlaine Harris
Dance of Seduction by Sabrina Jeffries

Born to Darkness by Suzanne Brockmann
Meri by Judy Mays 
Always Time to Die by Elizabeth Lowell

The Art Detective by Philip Mould

An Affair Without End by Candace Camp

Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins

Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris

Lover Revealed by J. R. Ward

Something About You by Julie James

 *ROR Spring Challenge Books

Book Blogger Reading Challenge 2012

I'm going to read five books from the Book Blogger Recommends 2011 list found on the Reading with Tequila book blog.

Books to Choose From:

1. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen 
2. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak 
3. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon 
4. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte 
5. Dark Lover by J.R. Ward 
6. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card 
7. Lover Awakened by J R Ward 
8. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee 
9. A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole
10. Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison 
11. The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer 
12. Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex by Mary Roach 
13. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley 
14. Naked in Death by JD Robb 
15. The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook 
16. Inkheart by Cornelia Funke 
17. A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin 
18. Across the Universe by Beth Revis 

Books I've Read:

1. Dark Lover by J. R. Ward
2. Lover Awakened by J. R. Ward

Books for All the Years of My Life

Someone mentioned on Shelfari that they were doing a challenge of reading a book written each year they have been alive and I thought that sounded like fun.  I think I'm going to have it be an on-going challenge, because I don't read that many pre-1990s books, so adding 30 or so more books to the tbr is asking too much for the year.  I'm going to have to do some research to figure out what to read for 1971 through the 80s.  Wikipedia here I come!

1971 - Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien
1972 - Watership Down
1973
1974
1975 - Curtain (Poirot's Last Case) by Agatha Christie
1976 - Touch Not the Cat by??
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982 - A Rose in Winter by Kathleen Woodiwiss
1983 - Double Love by Francine Pascal
1984
1985 - The Ruby in the Smoke by Philip Pullman or Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
1986
1987 - Glitter Baby by SEP
1988
1989 - Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
1990
1991 - Outlander by Diana Gabaldon or The Shadow and the Star by Laura Kinsale
1992 - Only You by Elizabeth Lowell
1993
1994

1995 - The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

1996 - The Wedding by Julia Garwood
1997 - The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman or Texas Destiny by Lorraine Heath
1998 - Everyday, Average Jones by Suzanne Brockmann or Texas Glory by Lorraine Heath
1999 - Texas Splendor by Lorraine Heath
2000 - The Duke and I by Julia Quinn

2001 - 1st to Die by James Patterson

2002 - Untie My Heart by Judith Ivory

2003 - Stiff by Mary Roach

2004 - The Legend of Banzai Maguire by Susan Grant

2005 - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larrson

2006 - Lover Eternal by J. R. Ward

2007 - Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs

2008 - Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs

2009 - Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs

2010 - Dukes to the Left of Me, Princes to the Right by Kieran Kramer

2011 - The Other Guy's Bride by Connie Brockway
2012

Reading Romances Challenge 2012

From the Reading Romances blog.  Nat, the Reading Romances blogger, will post several choices/categories each month to choose from.  You choose one of more books to fit the categories and read away.

The January Category:
Read a book that is first of a series, by an author that is new to you or a debut novel by an author.

• Dark Lover by J. R. Ward (first in a series, new author)
• The Duke and I by Julie Quinn (first in a series)

The February Categories:
Read a novella, or an anthology.

• Unlocked by Courtney Milan (novella)

Valentine’s day: Read a book that has a predominantly color “red” cover,  that has a kissing/embracing couple on its cover, or whose title has either the following words: kiss, heart or love.

• Sudden Death by Allison Brennan (red cover)
• Dukes to the Left of Me, Princes to the Right by Kieran Kramer (embracing couple)
• Unveiled by Courtney Milan (embracing couple)

Read a Historical Fiction (not limited to Historical Romance) – read a book that takes place in some notable period of history.

• The Help by Kathryn Stockett
• The Spymaster's Lady by Joanna Bourne

The March Categories:

Read a book whose author either has a three-word name or carries an official middle initial.

• Lover Eternal by J. R. Ward
• Lover Awakened by J. R. Ward

Read a book that you have previously started and meant to continue, but keep failing to do so.

• Angel: After the Fall Vol. 3 by Whedon & Vaughn (not a romance, but...)

The April Categories:

Read a contemporary book where something is different in the world than what reality reflects. (vampires, magic etc)

•  Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs

Read one book that was nominated for the RITA or Golden Heart award!

• Lover Revealed by J. R. Ward

Read a book with an accountant/book-keeper character, or due to a shortage of funds, read a free or borrowed (library, friend etc) book.

• Just Imagine by SEP (library) 
• Born to Darkness by Suzanne Brockmann (library)
• Club Dead by Charlaine Harris (library)
• Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris (library) 
• Something About You by Julie James

The May Categories:

Read a book by a favorite author or from a favorite genre.

• After Midnight by Teresa Medeiros

Read a book recommended by a friend

• In Bed With a Highlander by Maya Banks
• Seduction of a Highland Lass by Maya Banks
• Never Love a Highlander by Maya Banks

The June Categories:

Read a Stand-Alone book.

• The Witness by Nora Roberts
• Seduction by Amanda Quick

The July Categories

Read a book that has a “male profile” on the cover.

• The Duke's Perfect Wife by Jennifer Ashley

Read a book that is part of a series (Don’t forget to name the series and what Book number it is)

• A Touch of Dead and Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris (Sookie Stackhouse Series)
• River Marked by Patricia Briggs (Mercedes Thompson Series)
• Alpha and Omega and Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs (Alpha and Omega Series)
• Collision Course by K. A. Mitchell (Florida Series)
• Untraceable by Laura Griffin (Tracers Series)

Re-read a favorite book.

• The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Read a book that has one of the following words in its title: summer, heat, hot, scorching, fire, sizzle, flame or burn; or has a Hot Summer theme cover.

• Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

For National U.F.O Day, read a book set in another planet or involves space travel or has aliens in it.

• Eland/Rees/Maia & Rylan/Aiden & Ky (Tales of the Shareem) by Allyson James

The August Categories:

Read a book with an older Hero or heroine (AT LEAST mid-to-late thirties).

• Copper Beach by Jayne Ann Krentz

Read a novel that is classified as “chick-lit” or a light, humorous book about a young single, working woman in an urban setting.

• I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella 

Read a book that features a “friendship” as its main storyline.

• Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

The September Categories:
Read an Urban Fantasy with a strong romance line and strong, kick-ass heroine.

• Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris

Editors and Writers Month: Read a book where a character is in the writing field (author, writer, journalist, publisher, editor, etc)

• Legacy of the Witch by Maggie Shayne

Read a Book Day: Read a book that you have been meaning to read or a book that has been neglected in a series or a challenge or a random book that caught your fancy when you were browsing.

• The Great Escape by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

The October Categories:

Read a book where a character is a cop or a detective and/or a murder mystery is being solved.

• First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones

Halloween: Read a book that you consider “scary” or “spooky” , or one that features a typical “Halloween” character (witch, vampire, ghost, etc), or Read a book with a character, or subject matter, that is also a typical, old-fashioned Halloween costume (witch, ghost, vamp, princess, fairy, cowboy, firefighter etc, etc…).

• Haunted by Kelley Armstrong (ghost)
• Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness (vampire, witch)

The November Categories:

Read two books written by the same writer under different names (Ex. Sherrilyn Kenyon/Kinley MacGregor; Amanda Quick/Jayne Ann Krentz/Jyne Castle; JR Ward/Jessica Bird, etc)

• The Next Always and The Last Boyfriend by Nora Roberts (aka J. D. Robb)

Read a book published in the 90′s (1990-1999)

• Kill and Tell by Linda Howard

Read a Serial Romance a.k.a. Category Romance (ex. Harlequin, Silhouette,Mills & Boon, Candlelight,).

• Hot Island Nights by Sarah Mayberry

Read a romance where the heroine or hero is a widow or prince/princess.

• Untie My Heart by Judith Ivory

The December Categories:

A book that you are reading for another challenge, preferably one that you are wrapping up for the year

• In the Highlander's Bed by Cathy Maxwell

Christmas Theme: Read a book that has a Christmas related word in its title (mistletoe, christmas, holiday, santa, reindeer etc) or has a Christmas themed cover.

• A Christmas Seduction by Cathy Maxwell

Finish the Series Reading Challenge 2012

From Socrates' Book Review Blog.  Finish or get caught up on as many series as you want in 2012.  She offers three levels:
Level 1 - One Series
Level 2 - Two Series
Level 3 - Three or more series

I'm going for three or more because I have a lot of series that only require one more book to be read to be finished.

✔ Mercy Thompson:

Moon Called

Blood Bound

Iron Kissed

Bone Crossed

Silver Borne

River Marked

Susan Grant's Star Series:

Star King

Star Queen (short story in the anthology The Only One)

Marcella Burnard's Enemy Series:
Enemy Games

Courtney Milan's Turner Series:

Unveiled

Unlocked

Unclaimed
Untangled

Susan Anderson's Sisterhood Diaries Series:
Playing Dirty

Tessa Dare's Wanton Dairymaid Series:
A Lady of Persuasion

Elizabeth Hoyt's Prince Series:
The Serpent Prince
The Ice Princess (short story)

Susan Wiggs' Lakeshore Chronicles:
Marrying Daisy Bellamy

J. R. Ward's The Black Dagger Brotherhood Series:

Dark Lover

Lover Eternal

Lover Awakened

Lover Revealed
Lover Unbound
Lover Enshrined
Father Mine (short story)
Lover Avenged
Lover Mine
Lover Unleashed
Lover Reborn 

The Parasol Protectorate

Soulless

Changeless

Blameless

Heartless
Timeless 

Sookie Stackhouse/Southern Vampire Series

Dead Until Dark

Living Dead in Dallas

Club Dead

Dead to the World

Dead as a Doornail

Definitely Dead

All Together Dead

From Dead to Worse

Dead and Gone

Dead in the Family

Dead Reckoning
Deadlocked

Tales of the Shareem

Eland

Rees

Maia and Ryland

Rio

Aiden and Ky

Calder
Braden
Justin

Women of the Otherworld

Bitten

Stolen

Dime Store Magic

Industrial Magic
Haunted
Broken
No Humans Involved
Personal Demon
Living with the Dead
Frostbitten
Waking the Witch
Spellbound

Thirteen