In Death Wiki

A wiki for everything you ever wanted to know about J. D. Robb's In Death series.  Good if I decide to start the series again (only 20something books to go! :)).

2011 Reading Challenge Round-up

Well, it's hard to believe it, but 2011 is almost over, so that means it's time to look over all my challenges and see how I've done.  Here are all the challenges and my (soon to be) final numbers.

Total Number of Books Read in 2011: 131

Challenges I Completed in 2011:
TBR Pile: 40/40 Challenge completed
What's in a name challenge: 12/12 Challenge completed
Highlander Romance Challenge: 12/12 Challenge completed
Paranormal Romance Challenge: 12/12 Challenge completed
Romantic Suspense Challenge: 12/12 Challenge completed
New Author Reading Challenge: 30/30 Challenge completed
First in a Series Challenge: 24/24 Challenge completed
ROR Summer Challenge: 15/15 Challenge completed

Challenges I didn't Complete (but some were thisclose):
ROR Spring Challenge: 14/15 not completed
ROR Fall Challange: 14/15 not completed
Support Your Local Library Challenge: 45/50 completed x level not y level
11 in 11 Challenge: 27/33 no completed
Back to the Future Challenge:
I Spy Reading Challenge:
Read the Alphabet Challenge: 22/24
E-book Challenge: 27/30

Booksfree = Netflix for Books

Just learned about Booksfree which is like Netflix, but for books.  So cool!  Definitely a possibility for those books I want to read, but don't want to keep.

Books to Read in December

To Be Read:

MADIOAS Out with the Old Challenge (pick the oldest book from your Shelfari "Plan to Read" shelf):
Coffee at Luke's: An Unauthorized Gilmore Girls Gabfest
Ruby in the Smoke by Philip Pullman

Group Reads/Authors of the Month:
Beyond the Highland Mist by Karen Marie Moning
No Man's Mistress by Mary Balogh
Black Ice by Anne Stuart

Library Books:
Fool for Love by Eloisa James
For the Roses by Julie Garwood
Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling
Knight of a Trillion Stars by Dara Joy
Last Call by Daniel Okrent
Nothing But Trouble by Rachel Gibson
Rules of Surrender by Christina Dodd

Next in Series:
Love Bites by Lynsay Sands
Notorious Pleasures by Elizabeth Hoyt
Scandalous Desires by Elizabeth Hoyt
No Man's Mistress by Mary Balogh

End of Year Series Catch-up (MADIOAS):
The Dudley (Mistress) Series by Mary Balogh (No Man's Mistress)
Arcane Society: Looking Glass Trilogy by Krentz/Quick/Castle (Canyons of Night)
The Star Series by Susan Grant (The Star King)
Lakeshore Chronicles by Susan Wiggs (Marrying Daisy Belamy)
Maiden Lane Series by Elizabeth Hoyt
Sisterhood Diaries Series by Susan Anderson (Playing Dirty)

Historical Romance Challenge:

1.) Governess - Rules of Surrender by Christina Dodd

2.) Widow- Scandalous Desires by Elizabeth Hoyt
3.) Working Women - Anything for Love by Connie Brockway
4.) Women in the Arts - Captives of Night by Loretta Chase
5.) Second Chance at Love - A Fool for Love by Eloisa James

Currently Reading:

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (and Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling

Angel: After the Fall Vol. 3 by Joss Whedon & Brian Lynch

Don't You Forget About Me edited by Jamie Clarke

Read:

Anything for Love by Connie Brockway 

Storming the Castle by Eloisa James

Brianna by Judy Mays
When Beauty Tamed the Beast by Eloisa James

A Kingdom of Dreams by Judith McNaught

Canyons of Night by Jayne Castle

Moon Called by Patricia Briggs (listening :-))

Rules of Surrender by Christina Dodd
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larrson
Beyond the Highland Mist by Karen Marie Moning
No Man's Mistress by Mary Balogh
 

GoodReads Reading Challenge Links

Some links to Goodreads.com reading challenge groups:
Nothing But Reading Challenges Group
SOS: Serious Overload of Series Group
The Challenge Factory
Romance Readers Reading Challenges

Winter 2011 Readers of Romance Challenge

We got the categories, now it's time to pick some books.  Hard to believe it's time for a new challenge already.  This year is FLYING by!

Total So Far: 13/15

1. Read a book with the word "blue" (Blue Christmas) or the word "white" (I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas) in the title
Single White Vampire by Lynsay Sands or Vision in White by Nora Roberts

2. Read a book with Christmas colors on the front (Red, Green, White, Silver or Blue)

Beyond the Highland Mist by Karen Marie Moning

3. Read a book where the h/h is considered royalty

Star King by Susan Grant

4. Read a book that the h/h is a lawyer or doctor

When Beauty Tamed the Beast by Eloisa James

5. Read a book that has the word "baby" in the title
Glitter Baby by SEP

6. Read a book that has 1 word in the title

Brianna by Judy Mays

7. Read a book from a series that you have already started

Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs

8. Read a book that has been “hyped” up (this could have been hyped up at any time ---think of any books you’ve avoided because of it!)

Dark Lover by J. R. Ward

9. Read a book by an author that’s first or last name starts with the same letter as yours

Canyons of Night by Jayne Castle

10. Read a book with a cheesy title

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

11. Read a book by Amanda Quick or Mary Balogh

No Man's Mistress by Mary Balogh

12. Read a book that does not have a person on the cover

The Husband List by Victoria Alexander

13. Read a Romantic Suspense

 Sudden Death by Allison Brennan

14. Reader’s Choice

Moon Called by Patricia Briggs

15. Reader’s Choice

The Duke and I by Julia Quinn

2012 Reading Challenges

I can't believe it's already November!  This year just flew by.  It's already time to start thinking about challenges for the new year.

Here are a few I know I'll do:
12 in 12
Support Your Local Library Challenge
Mount TBR
Reading Romance Challenge
Historical Romance
Beth Fish Reads' What's in a Name Challenge #5 
Read 100+ Books in 2012
Wendy the Superlibrarian's TBR Challenge 
Double Dare TBR Challenge
Finishing Series Reading Challenge 

And here are some other possibilities:
Men In Uniform
Antonym Reading Challenge 
Paranormal Reading Challenge 
Off the Shelf Challenge 
Dirty Dancing Soundtrack Challenge (how awesome is that?!?!) 
All About You Challenge
End of the World Challenge 
Ten Book Author Train Challenge 
Disney Princess Reading Challenge
Animal Alphabet Reading Challenge
My Hero Challenge 
Heroine Challenge 
How Many Reading Challenges Challenge 
Another Variation on the TBR Challenge 
Drinks & Cocktails Reading Challenge 
Speculative Romance Challenge
2012 Genre Challenge
Mystery and Suspense Reading Challenge 
I Want More 2012 Reading Challenge 
Book Bloggers Recommendations 2012 
A to Z Reading Challenge 
Krazy Kleypas Reading Challenge 

A Blog of Reading Challenges:
A Novel Challenge

List of Bests

I found a cool website where you can track what movies you've seen, books you've read, etc... It's called ListofBests and I've already wasted a lot of time updating lists of movies and books I've seen/read.  So many ways to kill time online. :)

Books to Read in November

Lots of TBR from various Challenges:

ROR Fall Challenge Books
Slow Hands by Leslie Kelly
Surrender the Siren by Tessa Dare
The Kingdom of Dreams by Judith McNaught
Virgin River by Robyn Carr
Anything for Love by Connie Brockway
Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning

Historical Romance "Who's Your Hero Challenge?"
Scholar: Anything for Love by Connie Brockway
Lawman/Detective: The Bridal Season by Connie Brockway
Rake:  Dukes to the Left of Me, Princes to the Right by Kieran Kramer
Soldier: A Kingdom of Dreams by Judith McNaught
Businessman:  Surrender the Siren by Tessa Dare

MADIOAS Out with the Old Challenge (pick the oldest book from your Shelfari "Plan to Read" shelf):
Coffee at Luke's: An Unauthorized Gilmore Girls Gabfest
Ruby in the Smoke by Philip Pullman

MADIOAS Pick a Book from a Friend's Shelf Challenge:
Virgin River by Robyn Carr (from Jonetta's shelf)

Library Books:
Last Call by Daniel Okrent
For the Roses by Julie Garwood
Nothing But Trouble by Rachel Gibson

The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn

Next in Series:
Archangel's Kiss by Nalini Singh
Shadow Dance by Julie Garwood

ROR AOTM:
Stay a Little Longer by Dorothy Garlock

Currently Reading:

A Kingdom of Dreams by Judith McNaught

Angel: After the Fall Vol. 3 by Joss Whedon & Brian Lynch

Don't You Forget About Me edited by Jamie Clarke
Anything for Love by Connie Brockway

Read:

Archangel's Kiss by Nalini Singh

Virgin River by Robyn Carr 
Angel: After the Fall Vol 2 by Joss Whedon & Brian Lynch

Surrender the Siren by Tessa Dare
Shadow Dance by Julie Garwood
Slow Hands by Leslie Kelly

November "Who's Your Hero?" Historical Romance Challenge

Who’s Your Hero?
Pick a book for each type of hero:
1.) Scholar
Cloudy With a Chance of Marriage by Kieran Kramer
 
2.) Lawman/Detective
The Bridal Season by Connie Brockway
 
3.) Rake
Surrender the Siren by Tessa Dare
 
4.) Soldier
England's Perfect Hero by Suzanne Enoch

5.) Businessman 

Books to Read in October

In honor of Halloween, I'm reading books with titles or author names that start with the letters that spell Halloween:
H - Honor's Spendor by Julie Garwood (Library/AAR Top 100)
A - Anderson, Susan - Playing Dirty (TBR Pile)
L - Lethal by Sandra Brown (Library)
L - Lisa Kleypas - Then Came You (ROR/AAR Top 100)
O - One Touch of Scandal by Liz Carlyle (ROR/TBR Pile)
W - When Beauty Tamed the Beast by Eloisa James (TBR Pile)
E - Enemy Within by Marcella Burnard
E - Enemy Games by Marcella Burnard
N - Nalini Singh - Angels' Blood (ROR/TBR Pile)

Other Possible Reads (all from the library):
Prey by Linda Howard
Last Call by Daniel Okrent
The History of the World in Six Glasses by Tom Standage
For the Roses by Julie Garwood
Nothing But Trouble by Rachel Gibson
Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas
Bride Quartet by Nora Roberts
Ice Cold by Tess Gerritsen

Historical Romance Group Halloween Challenge:
Changeless by Gail Carriger
Rises the Night by Colleen Gleason

MADIOAS Pick a Book Challenge:
Virgin River by Robyn Carr (from Jonetta's shelf)

ROR AOTM:
Back in Black by Lori Foster

Nora Roberts Group BOTM:
Captivated by Nora Roberts

Currently Reading: 

Read:

Enemy Within by Marcella Burnard 

Then Came You by Lisa Kleypas

Ice Cold by Tess Gerritsen

Honor's Spendor by Julie Garwood (Library/AAR Top 100)

Lethal by Sandra Brown (Library)
One Touch of Scandal by Liz Carlyle (ROR/TBR Pile)
Angels' Blood by Nalini Singh (ROR/TBR Pile)
The Pirate Lord by Sabrina Jeffries (ROR/TBR Pile)
Prey by Linda Howard (Library) 
Just Like Heaven by Julia Quinn (TBR Pile)
Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas
Captivated by Nora Roberts
The History of the World in Six Glasses by Tom Standage

Book Reviews

I've always been really good at telling and describing in my writing, but not very good at analysis (80% of my college papers had "needs more analysis" as one of the comments).  I read a lot, but it's a very passive process.  I don't think a lot about why I did or didn't like a book, and I want to change that.  Since I tend to read genre fiction, which isn't necessarily very challenging, I'm going to challenge myself to write reviews and think more about why I did or didn't like the books I read.

To get me started, I found a couple resources for writing reviews; one is from enotes and one is from writing-world.com.

HTML Tricks

A link to a helpful list of special html characters like check marks and stars.  Fun!

Books to Read in September

To Be Read:
The Iron Duke by Meljean Brooke (Just cos)
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card (Library)
The Help by Kathryn Stockett (TBR pile)
For the Roses by Julie Garwood (ROR/Library)
Honor's Splendor by Julie Garwood (AAR Top 100/Library)

Currently Reading: 
Pretty In Pink: The Golden Age of Teenage Movies (Library)
Enemy Within by Marcella Burnard (TBR pile)

Read:

Key of Valor by Nora Roberts
She Went All the Way by Meggin Cabot (ROR/Library e-books) 
Soulless by Gail Carriger (Make a Dent in Your Shelf BOTM)
The Many Sins of Lord Cameron by Jennifer Ashley (ROR/Historical Romance Challenge)
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
The Reef by Nora Roberts (Nora BOTM)
Crocodile on the Sandbank (ROR/Library) 
To Desire a Devil by Elizabeth Hoyt (ROR)
Americus by M. K. Reed 

Tvtropes.com - The Tricks of the Trade for Writing Fiction

Tvtrops looks like a fun way to kill some time online.  When I don't have four reports to finalize, I will lose a few hours searching the website and report back!
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/HomePage

Fall 2011 Readers of Romance Challenge

Well, we've got the categories, now I've got to pick some books!

1. Read a book with a Title that has Alliteration (Simply Sinful, Definitely Dead)

To Desire a Devil by Elizabeth Hoyt

2. Read a book with a Special/Unusual Setting (http://www.likesbooks.com/set.html)

Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters (Egypt)

3. For Halloween read a book with a Body Part in title (Skintight, Eye of the Beholder)
Slow Hands by Leslie Kelly

4. For a Halloween theme, read a Cross Dressing/In Disguise book (http://www.likesbooks.com/dress.html)

Surrender the Siren by Tessa Dare 

5. Read a book where the h/h is an angel, demon or god http://www.likesbooks.com/deities.html

Angel's Blood by Nalini Singh 

6. Read a book that has a Stranded theme (cabin romances can be included)

She Went All the Way by Meggin Cabot

7. Vegas Baby... read a book with a Vegas theme---gambling, wagers, Elvis, Vegas itself, clubs, etc

Then Came You by Lisa Kleypas

8. Read a book published in the 90's (1990-1999)
Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas

9. Read a book by Lorraine Heath or Liz Carlyle
One Touch of Scandal by Liz Carlyle

10. Read a book with a location in the title (state name, mountain, house, road, etc.)

Virgin River by Robyn Carr

11. Read a Western
Anything for Love by Connie Brockway (currently reading)

12. Read a book with a plane, train, or boat in the story (this can include plane crashes and ship wrecks) 

The Pirate Lord by Sabrina Jeffries

13. Read a book where the h/h is a spy http://www.likesbooks.com/spies.html

The Many Sins of Lord Cameron by Jennifer Ashley

14. Reader’s Choice

Just Like Heaven by Julia Quinn 

15. Read a book that a buddy has on their shelf

Shelter Mountain by Robyn Carr or Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning

Regency Romance Resources

In my most recent foray through the WWW I stumbled upon a fun website called Good Ton, which has everything a fan of the Tradition Regency romance might need. It includes lists of all books written and their publication order, favorite plots, reviews. My favorite sections is the guide to the Regency lexicon. I was familiar with most of the words and expressions, but I did learn that I've been pronouncing the word Ton incorrectly all these years. It's pronounced like the word tone. Who knew? Well, now I do!

I found another good Regency guide on author Candice Hern's website.  I've never read a book by her, so I may have to add her to my every expanding TBR list.  On her official website she has a section called Candice's Regency World with all sorts of resources, pictures and definitions.

Books to Read in August

To Be Read:
Most of the books on my tbr list this month are from my ROR Summer Challenge List.

I'm also doing a group read for the Nora Roberts group, would like to read a book by Paula Quinn (the AOTM in the ROR Shelfari group) and I'd like to read The Help by Kathryn Stockett before I see the movie.

• The Help by Kathryn Stockett
• Laird of the Mist by Paula Quinn

Reading Now:

Key of Valor by Nora Roberts (just cos)

Read in August:

1. When Harry Met Molly by Kieran Kramer (ROR)

2. Love Doctor by Mari Freeman

3. Key of Light by Nora Roberts (Nora Roberts Group Read)

4. The Rest Falls Away by Colleen Gleason (ROR)
5. Key of Knowledge by Nora Roberts (just cos)
6. Secret Mistress by Mary Balogh (Library/ROR) 
7. Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh (ROR)
8. The Raven Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt (ROR)
9. Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage by Jennifer Ashley (ROR)
10. Not Quite a Husband by Sherry Thomas
11. Some Like it Wicked by Teresa Medieros
12. The Keepsake by Tess Gerritsen (Library) 

Books to Read in July 2011

To Be Read:
Double Trouble by Francine Pascal (SVH Group)
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card (11 in 11; FITG)
Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh (ROR Summer Challenge) 
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen (Calling All Bookworms June Challenge)
The Help by Kathryn Stockett (read before the movie comes out)

Currently Reading:
1. Don't You Forget About Me, Edited by Jaime Clarke (11 in 11 Challenge, TBR pile)
2. When Harry Met Molly by Kieran Kramer

Read in July:

1. A Quick Bite by Lynsay Sands (Library e-book)
2. When Tony Met Adam (short story) by Suzanne Brockmann 

3. The Bride by Julie Garwood (Highlander)
4. As You Desire by Connie Brockway (ROR Summer Challenge) 
5. The Bloodstone Affair by Emma Wildes

6. Carnal Innocence by Nora Roberts (Nora Roberts July Group Read)
7. Prince Joe by Suzanne Brockmann (Men in Uniform Challenge)
8. Forever Blue by Suzanne Brockman (Men in Uniform Challenge) 
9. The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley (ROR Summer Challenge)
10. Heat Wave by Richard Castle (Library e-book)
11. Frisco's Kid by Suzanne Brockmann (ROR Summer Challenge)

Did Not Finish:
1. Nefertiti by Michelle Moran (Calling All Bookworms Reading Challenge)
2. Midnight Angel by Lisa Kleypas

 

To Keep or Not to Keep...that is the Question

AKA My e-reader quandry.

Last Friday, on impulse (well after spending 1 hour+ researching e-readers online), I went to Best Buy to look at them in person and they had the new Nook, but only in the box.  That was the one that got the best reviews, so I decided to buy it to try it.  Now I have to figure out if I want to keep it or not. *sigh*

Updated 7/9/11:
Now it's been two weeks and I've read several books on the e-reader and I've decided to keep it; I even bought a cover for it today. :)  I definitely think it was a good purchase.  Now I've got to start saving for a new computer and cell phone.

Cool Reading URLs!

Oh how I love the web.  I found two nifty links during my foray into the WWW last night.

First a nifty website called Literature-Map where you can type in an author's name and find other related authors.  It shows up as a word cloud.  I'm not sure where they're getting the data, but it's a fun tool.

I also found a link, courtesy of Reading With Tequila Book Blog, to a website where I can create a meter showing how many books I've read in each challenge.  It's called the NaNoWriMo Word Meter and it's found on Language is a Virus.

Filling in the Gaps Reading Challenge

From Editorial Ass's blog.  I'm going to make up my own list and modify the rules.  Eventually.

http://editorialass.blogspot.com/2009/03/project-fill-in-gaps.html

Awhile ago, my friend Andromeda Romano-Lax, the author of the beloved novel The Spanish Bow, told me about a project of hers, which I've decided to totally rip off (sorry, Andromeda).

She collected a list of 100 books that she wants to have read in her life to fill in some of her reading gaps of classics and great contemporary fiction. She knew it was a monumental task ahead of her--we all tend to choose fun things instead of things we should read, right? At least I do--so she gave herself 5 years to try to get through the list, and gave herself 25% accident forgiveness, meaning if she finishes 75 titles in 5 years, she'll consider herself to have been victorious.

I'm copying her rules EXACTLY except I'm giving myself 5 years starting now and rounding up (ie almost 6 years...) so my goal will be to finish 75 of these 100 books by New Year 2015. I hope this window will also allow me to pick up other non-list books along the way (cuz let's face it, I will... I have a compulsive book buying habit).

Series Challenge 2011

Series Challenge Season 5

Hosted by Secret Dreamworld of a Bookaholic

The rules:

1) The challenge starts January 1, 2011 and ends December 31, 2011.

2) You must read 3 or more books for this challenge.

3) With these books, you should finish the series or at least be up to date with it.

4) Crossovers with other challenges are perfectly alright, as are re-reads.

Series to Complete or Catch-up On:

Legend of the Four Soldiers by Elizabeth Hoyt

To Taste Temptation

To Seduce a Sinner

To Beguile a Beast

To Desire a Devil

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games

Catching Fire

Mockingjay

The Kitty Norville Series by Carrie Vaughn

Kitty and the Dead Man's Hand

Kitty Raise Hell

Kitty and the House of Horrors

Kitty Goes to War

Kitty's Big Trouble

Kitty's Greatest Hits

Enemy Series by Marcella Burnard

Enemy Within

Enemy Games

Lakeshore Chronicles by Susan Wiggs

Marrying Daisy Belamy

Realms Beyond by Jess Granger

Beyond the Shadows

The Prince Trilogy by Elizabeth Hoyt

The Raven Prince

The Serpent Prince

The Leopard Prince

The Highland Pleasures Series by Jennifer Ashley

The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie

Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage

The Many Sins of Lord Cameron

Highland Lairds Series by Julie Garwood

The Secret

Ransom

Shadow Music

Lairds' Fiancees by Julie Garwood

The Bride

The Wedding

The Key Series by Nora Roberts

Key of Light

Key of Knowledge

Key of Valor

Total So Far: 20/31

I Spy Reading Challenge 2011

From Goodreads SOS Serious Overload of Series Group:

I love challenges where we have to go on a little scavenger hunt through our TBR to find books that fit. This one is a TITLE search challenge--it's not based on finding pictures on the cover, but finding words in the title of the book.

But instead of giving you specific words to search for, we're going to do categories. I've listed a bunch of examples, but you're not limited to those--use your imagination and find words that fit the categories.

You may use anthologies & rereads.  Also, if you are having a hard time with a category, you many use the series name if it is printed on the cover of the book. Everyone can do that for up to 3 categories.

_____________________________________________________________________

In the TITLE of a book, find a word that fits the below categories:

1. Color  --  don't forget the good ones like crimson & indigo

Forever Blue by Suzanne Brockmann

2. Number: one, two, three, as well as once, twice, first, second

Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean

3. Things That Grow: flower, tree, rose, orchid, garden, lily, forest, seed, thorn, ivy

One Perfect Rose by  Mary Jo Putney

4. 4 Seasons: spring, summer, fall, autumn, winter

A Rose in Winter by Kathleen Woodiwiss or Winter Fire by Elizabeth Lowell

5. First Name: Dick, Tom, Harry, Harriet

Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams

6. Places: city, state, country, land, town, empire, kingdom, world OR the proper name of a city, state or country (NY, London)

To Scotland, With Love by Karen Hawkins

7. Body Part: heart, eye, hand, bone, skin, mind, foot

Kitty and the Dead Man's Hand by Carrie Vaughn

8. Weapon: knife, sword, arrow, dart, poison, blade, razor

Dark Lover by  J. R. Ward (A Black Dagger Brotherhood Novel)

9. Body of Water: sea, ocean, river, lake, pond, bayou

The Reef by Nora Roberts

10. Form of Water: ice, fog, rain, snow, water, mist

Steamed by Katie MacAlister

11. Product of Fire: heat, smoke, fire, burn, flames, light, ash, blaze

Chasing Fire by Nora Roberts

12. Heavenly Body: sun, moon, star

Star King by Susan Grant

13. Architecture: castle, house, tower, bridge, gate

Kitty's House of Horrors by Carrie Vaughn

14. 5 Senses: sight, sound, touch, scent, taste

To Taste Temptation by Elizabeth Hoyt

15. Royal Title: king, queen, princess, duke

The Duke of Shadows by Meredith Duran

16. Family Member: brother, daughter, mother

Not Quite a Husband by Sherry Thomas

17. 4 Elements: fire, earth, air/wind, water

Trial By Fire by Jo Davis

18. Time of Day : morning, noon, night, evening, midnight, twilight, dusk, dawn

All Through the Night by Connie Brockway

19. Metal: gold, silver, bronze, iron, steel

Quicksilver by Amanda Quick

20. Emotion/Feeling: love, hate, pride, passion, desire, fear, envy

As You Desire by Connie Brockway 

21. Animal/Insect: dog, cat, wolf, tiger, bird, spider, fox, crow, goose, snake

The Leopard Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt

22. Something to Read: book, tale, story

Written on Your Skin by Meredith Duran

23. Gender Identifier: boy, girl, man, woman, wife, husband, lady

The Lady Most Likely… by Julia Quinn, Eloisa James and Connie Brockway

24. Paranormal Being: vampire, demon, angel, succubus, ghost, zombie, devil, unicorn, dragon

To Desire a Devil by Elizabeth Hoyt

Back to the Future Reading Challenge

I found this reading challenge on Shelfari in the Reading Challenge Addict Group.

Duration: 1/1/11 - 12/31/11

Rules: Read 10-66 books. For each year 2001-2011, read the number of books published in each year that corresponds to the last digit(s) of each year. Read 11 books from 2011, 10 books from 2010, 9 books from 2009, and so on.

2011

1. The Lady Most Likely...by Julia Quinn, Eloisa James & Connie Brockway

2. Quicksilver by Amanda Quick

3. Call Me Irresistible by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

4. Breaking the Rules by Suzanne Brockmann

5. A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

6. Chasing Fire by Nora Roberts
7. Bossypants by Tina Fey

8. The Secret Mistress by Mary Balogh

9. The Many Sins of Lord Cameron by Jennifer Ashley

10. Lethal by Sandra Brown

11. Just Like Heaven by Julia Quinn

2010

1. Wicked Intentions by Elizabeth Hoyt

2. In Too Deep by Jayne Ann Krentz

3. Last Night's Scandal by Loretta Chase

4. A Gentleman Always Remembers by Candace Camp

5. A Perfect Proposal by Katie Fforde

6. Simply Irresistible by Jill Shalvis

7. Steamed by Katie MacAlister

8. Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean

9. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins 

10. When Harry Met Molly by Kieran Kramer

2009

1. Beyond Heaving Bosoms by Sarah Wendell & Candy Tan

2. True Love and Other Disasters by Rachel Gibson

3. Kitty and the Dead Man's Hand by Carrie Vaughn

4. Sold to a Laird by Karen Ranney

5. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

6. To Beguile a Beast by Elizabeth Hoyt

7. The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie by Jennifer Ashley

8. Heat Wave by Richard Castle

9. Not Quite a Husband by Sherry Thomas

2008

1. Trial By Fire by Jo Davis

2. The Duke of Shadows by Meredith Duran

3. Your Scandalous Ways by Loretta Chase

4. To Taste Temptation by Elizabeth Hoyt

5. Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

6. To Seduce a Sinner by Elizabeth Hoyt

7. Some Like it Wicked by Teresa Medeiros

8. The Keepsake by Tess Gerritsen

2007

1. And Then He Kissed Her by Laura Lee Guhrke

2. To Scotland, With Love by Karen Hawkins

3. Games of Command by Linnea Sinclair

4. The Leopard Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt

5. Virgin River by Robyn Carr

6. Shadow Music by Julie Garwood

7. The Rest Falls Away by Colleen Gleason

2006

1. Extreme Bachelor by Julia London

2. Lord Perfect by Loretta Chase

3. Her Master and Commander by Karen Hawkins

4. Slave to Sensation by Nalini Signh

5. The Raven Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt

6. Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning

2005

1. Passion by Lisa Valdez

2. Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell
3. A Quick Bite by Lynsay Sands

4. The History of the World in Six Glasses by Tom Standage

5. Dark Lover by J. R. Ward

2004

1. Miss Wonderful by Loretta Chase

2. Brianna by Judy Mays

3. Love Bites by Lynsay Sands

4. The Legend of Banzai Maguire by Susan Grant

2003

1. Cry No More by Linda Howard

2. To Sir Philip, With Love by Julia Quinn

3. Key of Light by Nora Roberts

2002

1. She Went All the Way by Meggin Cabot

2. Untie My Heart by Judith Ivory

2001

1. Suddenly You by Lisa Kleypas

Books to Read in June

To Be Read:
The Bride by Julie Garwood (Highlander)
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen (Calling All Bookworms June Challenge)
As You Desire by Connie Brockway (ROR Summer Challenge)
The Help by Kathryn Stockett (read before the movie comes out)
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin (I'm Not a Book Snob June Challenge)

Currently Reading:
1. Don't You Forget About Me, Edited by Jaime Clarke (11 in 11 Challenge, TBR pile)
2. Nefertiti by Michelle Moran (Calling All Bookworms Reading Challenge)
3. A Quick Bite by Lynsay Sands (Library e-book)

Books I've Read:

1. Steamed by Katie MacAlister (ROR Spring Challenge)
2. To Taste Temptation by Elizabeth Hoyt (Historical Romance challenge)

3. Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean (ROR Summer Challenge)

4. To Seduce a Sinner by Elizabeth Hoyt
5. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (Library)
6. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (Library)
7. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (Library)

8. To Beguile a Beast by Elizabeth Hoyt (ROR Summer Challenge)
9. Bossypants by Tina Fey (11 in 11 Challenge, Library)
10. Last Gleaming by Joss Whedon et. al. 
11. The Guild by Felicia Day 

12. Stealing Shadows by Kay Hooper (Mystery & Suspense Challenge)

 

Summer 2011 Readers of Romance Challenge

1. Read a romance where the h/h had or currently has an addiction

Frisco's Kid by Suzanne Brockmann

2. Read a book by an author you have not read yet

The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie by Jennifer Ashely

3. Read a book that’s on your wishlist

Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh

4. Read a book with "Bride" "Groom" or "Wedding" in the title for June

The Bride by Julie Garwood

5. Read a book where the h/h are already married, or marry at the beginning of the story

Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage by Jennifer Ashley

6. Try a new genre in romance (Historical Vampire Romance)

The Rest Falls Away by Colleen Gleason

7. Read a book by Mary Balogh or Nicole Jordan

The Secret Mistress by Mary Balogh

8. Read a book with "Wicked" in the title

Some Like It Wicked by Teresa Medieros

9. Baby, it's hot outside! Pick a hot colored cover for summer (red, orange, yellow)

Not Quite a Husband by Sherry Thomas (currently reading)

10. Read a book with a man and woman on the cover

The Raven Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt 

11. Read a book were the h/h is, or used to be, a mistress, courtesan, or prostitute

To Beguile a Beast by Elizabeth Hoyt (heroine was a mistress)

12. Read an 'A' or 'B' rated book at AAR

Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean

13. Go back and pick any previous challenge you enjoyed! (Title that has a name in it)

When Harry Met Molly by Keiran Kramer

14. Readers Choice

A Quick Bite by Lynsay Sands

15. Readers Choice II

As You Desire by Connie Brockway

Books To Read In May 2011

I usually just pick whatever I want to read, but between library books that are due during the month and some reading challenges I'm doing, I actually have most of my May TBR list figured out already:

May TBR:

Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen (Bookworm)
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
I may read Last Call by Daniel Okrent if I have time.

Currently Reading:

Steamed by Katie MacAllister (RORSC)

Read in May:
Extreme Bachelor by Julia London (RORSC)

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness (Bookworm/Library)
One Perfect Rose by Mary Jo Putney  (RORSC/Bookworm)
Chasing Fire by Nora Roberts (Library) 
Sold To a Laird by Karen Ranney (RORSC)
Simply Irresistible by Jill Shalvis (RORSC)
Assasination Vacation by Sarah Vowell (Bookworm) 
Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris 

Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge

Click here to see the entire 2010 Book Blogger Recommendation List.

The Levels:
Level I - Read 5 books from the 2010 Book Blogger Recommendation List
Level II - Read 10 books
Level III - Read 15 books
Level IV - Read 20 books
Level V - Read 20+ books

The Rules:
Chose your own books from the list. You can decide to read books only on the Top 25 list or from the entire recommendation list. You do not have to make a list of books before the challenge begins.
All forms of books acceptable (audiobooks, eBooks, etc.)
Rereads do not count towards the completion of the challenge. The challenge is about discovering books that are new to you.

I'm going to attempt Level 1

1. Simply Irresistible - Jill Shalvis (May 2011)
2. Nine Rules to Break When Romacing a Rake by Sarah MacLean (June 2011)
3. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (June 2011)
4. Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters (September 2011)
5. Angel's Blood - Nalini Singh 

COMPLETED OCTOBER 2011

Here are some other books I may read:
Outlander - Diana Gabaldon
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
The Other Boleyn Girl - Philippa Gregory
Persuasion - Jane Austen
The Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffennegger
The Red Tent - Anita Diamant
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies - Jane Austen & Seth Grahame-Smith
Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
Dark Lover - J.R. Ward
To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card

Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge 2011

Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge
hosted by The Book Vixen

Details:

• Runs January 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011 (books read prior to 1/1/11 do not count towards the challenge). You can join at anytime. You can sign up on The Book Vixen’s blog.
• The goal is to outdo yourself by reading more books in 2011 than you did in 2010. See the different levels below and pick the one that works best for you. Nothing is set in stone; you can change levels at any time during the challenge.
• Books can be any format (bound, eBook, audio).
• Re-reads and crossovers from other reading challenges are fine.

Levels:

Getting my heart rate up – Read 1–5 more books     

Out of breath – Read 6–10 more books      

Breaking a sweat – Read 11–15 more books  

I’m on fire! – Read 16+ more books

I want to read 100 books this year.  Last year I read 93, so that means I have to be "out of breath" and read 7 more books than I did last year.  I think I can!  I think I can! 

Total so far (thru 12/19/11): 128 books read

*Updated 8/14/11 -- I'm not going to have any problem getting to 100 books, so my new goal is to read one more than my best reading year ever.  In 2008, I read 127 books, so I'm going to try to best it by one and read 128 books and to do that, I need to be "on fire"!
*Updated 12/19/11 -- Woo hoo!  I made my goal.  There are still about ten days left in the month, so I should be able to read a few more books.  I think I should get past 130 no problem!  Yay me! 

2011 Romantic Suspense Reading Challenge

The Rules:

The goal of this challenge is to read AT LEAST 12 novels that are Romantic Suspense between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2011. Books read before January 1, 2011 do NOT count towards the challenge.

There is no need to create your list now. Please feel free to use your challenge post to keep track of your titles if you so desire.

Here is a helpful list on Goodreads if you are looking for some ideas for titles.

So far this year I've read:

1. In Too Deep by Jayne Ann Krentz

2. Cry No More by Linda Howard

3. After the Night by LInda Howard

4. Trial By Fire by Jo Davis

5. Breaking the Rules by Suzanne Brockmann

6. Extreme Bachelor by Julia London

7. Chasing Fire by Nora Roberts

8. Stealing Shadows by Kay Hooper

9. Carnal Innocence by Nora Roberts

10. Prince Joe by Suzanne Brockmann

11. Forever Blue by Suzanne Brockmann

12. Heat Wave by Richard Castle

13. Frisco's Kid by Suzanne Brockmann

14. She Went All the Way by Meggin Cabot

15. The Reef by Nora Roberts

16. Lethal by Sandra Brown
17. Prey by Linda Howard
18. Canyons of Night by Jayne Castle 

Wendy the Superlibrarian's TBR Challenge 2011

What is the TBR Challenge?  Simply put, it's where readers pick up a long neglected book from their TBR pile.  The idea is to read those long neglected books that you just had to get your hands on at the time, but have been languishing in your pile, all lost and forgotten.

Since some readers like a little guidance, I will also be keeping with tradition and providing themes.  These themes are totally voluntary.  If you don't have anything in your TBR that fits, the theme doesn't appeal, or you just want to read something else - go for it!  Again, this is meant to be a fun challenge.

Theme Suggestions (see below)

Since I'm not posting reviews, I'm just going to pick and choose from the list of themes.

January - Steamy Reads (Erotic romance, erotica, something spicy!)

Bad Kitty by Debra Glass

February - New-to-you author 

Wicked Intentions by Elizabeth Hoyt 

March - Ugly Ducklings (Heroes and/or heroines who aren't "pretty")

Suddenly You by Lisa Kleypas

April - Other genre besides romance

Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams

May - Holiday themes (Christmas, Thanksgiving, Valentine's Day, it's all good!)

Simply Irresistible by Jill Shalvis

June - Fairy tale themes (Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, etc.)

To Beguile a Beast by Elizabeth Hoyt

July - Category Romance

I don't usually read Category romance, but I did read what I think was originally released as a category romance back in the day, so I'll choose that book:

Prince Joe by Suzanne Brockmann

August - Paranormal or Romantic Suspense

Key of Light by Nora Roberts

September - Series Catch-up (Pick up a book from a series you're behind on)

To  Desire a Devil by Elizabeth Hoyt

October - Contemporary Romance

Prey by Linda Howard

November - Marriage of convenience, arranged marriage or pretend engagement

Shadow Music by Julie Garwood

December - Western (contemporary or historical)

Anything for Love by Connie Brockway

• For help scoping out some of these themes from your massive TBR pile, check out the highly awesome Special Title Listings over at All About Romance.

A to Z Challenge 2011 (Character Names)

From Haley @ The Life (and Lies) of Inanimate Flying Objects Book Blog

http://haleymathiot.blogspot.com/2011/01/alphabet-challenge.html 

1. 26 books!

2. only one letter per book!

3. Crossovers are fine

It runs January 1st 2011 –December 31, 2011. For each letter, read a book that has a main character or key supporting character  (not some random minor character mentioned twice!) whose name starts with that letter. It doesn’t have to be the title of the book, just the name. Ex: Alice (in wonderland), Bella (twilight), Cathy (Wuthering Heights), Dracula (Dracula) Estella (Great Expectations),  etc.

Levels:

Level 1: 10 Letters

Level 2: 20 Letters

Level 3: Completes all 26 letters (yes, that means X and Z and Q. I’m sure you can find something.)

COMPLETED 12/6/11!!!!

A: Amanda (Suddenly You by Lisa Kleypas)

B: Brodrick (Ransom by Julie Garwood)

C: Cornelia (Call Me Irresistible by Susan Elizabeth Phillips)

D: Dirk (Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams)

E: Eloise (To Sir Phillip, With Love by Julia Quinn)

F: Faith (True Love and Other Disasters by Rachel Gibson)

G: Gray (After the Night by Linda Howard)

H: Harry (And Then He Kissed Her by Laura Lee Guhrke)

I: Izzy (Breaking the Rules by Suzanne Brockmann)

J: Judith (The Secret by Julie Garwood)

K: Kat (Trial By Fire by Jo Davis)

L: Lazarus (Wicked Intentions by Elizabeth Hoyt)

M: Milla (Cry No More by Linda Howard)

N: Neville (A Gentleman Always Remembers by Candace Camp)

O: Olympia (Deception by Amanda Quick)

P: Passion (Passion by Lisa Valdez)

Q: Quentin (Not Quite a Husband by Sherry Thomas)

R: Randolph (A Christmas Promise by Mary Balogh)

S: Sybil (The Secret Pearl by Mary Balogh)

T: Tasha (Games of Command by Linnea Sinclair)

U: Uram (Angels' Blood by Nalini Singh)

V: Venitia (To Scotland, With Love by Karen Hawkins)

W: Will (Morning Glory by Lavyrle Spencer)

X: Xdana (Brianna by Judy Mays)

Y: Yelverton, Piers (When Beauty Tamed the Beast by Eloisa James)

Z: Zack (In Too Deep by Jayne Ann Krentz)