Books to Read in February

Library Books:
Blink by Malcolm Gladwell (audiobook)
Cat's Eyewitness by Rita Mae Brown (audiobook)
The Constant Princess by Phillipa Gregory (audiobook)
Cross Bones by Kathy Reichs (audiobook)
The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman (audiobook)
The Help by Kathryn Stockett (audiobook)
The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larrson (e-book & audiobook)
The Spymaster's Lady by Joanna Bourne (audiobook)

Group Challenges/AOTM:
Glitter Baby by SEP
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Star King by Susan Grant
Sudden Death by Allison Brennan
Vision in White by Nora Roberts

Continuing Series:
Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs
Changeless by Gail Carriger
Dukes to the Left of Me, Princes to the Right by Kieran Kramer
Lover Eternal by J. R. Ward

Stand Alones:
Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson

Set Aside for Now: 
Archangel's Consort by Nalini Singh

Currently Reading:

Unlocked by Courtney MilanThe Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman (audiobook)

Read:

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

The Help by Kathryn Stockett (audiobook)

Sudden Death by Allison Brennan
The Spymaster's Lady by Joanna Bourne (audiobook) 
Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs
Unveiled by Courtney Milan 
Star King by Susan Grant

Wendy the Super Librarian's TBR Challenge 2012

I'm going to do this one again this year.  The challenge details are found here on Wendy the Super Librarian's Blog.
The themes are optional, so if I have a book that fits great, but I'm not going to stress about it if I don't because it's really about getting rid of books from the TBR pile (mountain).

January 18 - Category romance 
First month and I'm already taking advantage of the theme being optional.  I don't read Category romance, so I don't own any and the point is to read books from the TBR, so I'm going to pick a book that's been on the TBR for awhile. 

Dark Lover by J. R. Ward

February 15 - Recommended Read (something recommended by a fellow reader)

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

March 21 - Series Catch-Up (pick a book from a series you're behind on)

Lover Eternal by J. R. Ward
Lover Awakened by J. R. Ward
Changeless by Gail Carriger

Blameless by Gail Carriger

April 18 - New-To-You Author

Assassin's Honor by Monica Burns

May 16 - Old School (Publication date prior to 2000 - that's over 10 years ago now! Yikes!)

Everyday, Average Jones by Suzanne Brockmann

June 20 - Western (Contemporary or historical)

Another month of going "theme optional."  I'm not going to read a Western romance this month, so instead I'll repeat the series catch-up theme; that one is always going to fit since I have so many series going! 

Stolen by Kelley Armstrong

All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris

From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris

July 18 - How Did This Get Here? (a book you can't remember how/why you put in your TBR!) 

Eland by Allyson James

August 15 - Steamy reads (Erotic romance, erotica, something spicy!)

Four Play by Maya Banks

September 19 - Other genre besides romance
Going "theme optional" again and back to my stand-by series catch-up theme, cos as usual it is needed!
Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris
Rio by Allyson James
Calder by Allyson James
Braden by Allyson James

October 17 - Paranormal or romantic suspense
First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones
Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness
Haunted by Kelley Armstrong
Open Season by Linda Howard

November 21 - All About The Hype (a book that created such chatter that it was inescapable).
Well, I still couldn't bring myself to read Fifty Shades of Grey, so I'm going to count completing a series (The Inn Boonboro Series) this months:
The Next Always by Nora Roberts
The Last Boyfriend by Nora Roberts
The Perfect Hope by Nora Roberts

December 19 - Holiday themes (Christmas, Thanksgiving, Valentine's Day, it's all good!)
A Christmas Seduction by Cathy Maxwell

A to Z Challenge (Character Names)

This was hosted by Haley at The Life (and Lies) of Inanimate Flying Objects Book Blog last year, but I can't find anyone hosting it this year, so I'm just going to do it myself!  Rules are the same as last year and I'm going to try for level three again (all 26 letters of the alphabet).

1. 26 books!

2. only one letter per book!

3. Crossovers are fine

Between January 1st 2012 –December 31, 2012, 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.

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!

A: Anthony Bridgerton (The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn)

B: Bill Compton (Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris)

C: Cyrus Ravensthorpe (Winning the Wallflower by Eloisa James)

D: Daphne Bridgerton (The Duke and I by Julia Quinn)

E: Elaine Stein (The Help by Kathryn Stockett)

F: Fallon Jones (The Scargill Cove Case Files by Jayne Ann Krentz)

G: (Lady) Gillian Marley (The Husband List by Victoria Alexander)

H: Hans Vigo (Sudden Death) by Allison Brennan

I: Iorek Byrnison (The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman)

J: Jim Owens (The Other Guy's Bride by Connie Brockway)

K: 

L: Lindsay Boxer (1st to Die by James Patterson)

M: Mercy Thompson (Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs)

N: Nick Sorrentino (Bitten by Kelly Armstrong)

O: Ogden Morrow (Ready Player One by Ernest Cline)

P: Poppy Smith-Barnes (Dukes to the Left of Me, Princes to the Right)

Q: Qhinn (Lover Revealed by J. R. Ward)

R: (Professor) Randolph Lyall (Changeless by Gail Carriger)

S: Samuel Cornick (Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs)

T: Tee Tucker (Cat's Eyewitness by Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie Brown)

U:

V: Vauban (The Spymaster's Lady by Joanna Bourne)

W: Wrath (Dark Lover by J. R. Ward)

X: Mr. X (Lover Eternal by J. R. Ward)

Y: Ymir (Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs)

Z: Zsadist (Lover Awakened by J. R. Ward)

Back to the Future Challenge 2012

I did this one last year and almost completed it.  I'm going to try again this year.  I'm not sure if anyone is officially hosting it or not, but it doesn't really matter since I never post any reviews. :)

Duration: 1/1/12 - 12/31/12
Rules: Read 12-78 books. For each year 2001-2012, read the number of books published in each year that corresponds to the last digit(s) of each year. Read 12 books from 2012, 11 books from 2011, 10 books from 2010, 9 books from 2009, and so on.

2012
1. Born to Darkness by Suzanne Brockmann
2. The Proposal by Mary Balogh
3. Copper Beach by Jayne Ann Krentz
4. The Theory of Attraction by Delphine Dryden
5. Crystal Gardens by Amanda Quick
6. The Great Escape by Susan Elizabeth Phillips 
7. The Duke's Perfect Wife by Jennifer Ashley
8. I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella
9. Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness
10. The Witness by Nora Roberts

11. Paris in Love by Eloisa James
12. Never Seduce a Scot by Maya Banks

2011
1. Is Everyone Hanging Out without Me? by Mindy Kaling
2. The Scargill Cove Case Files by Jayne Ann Krentz
3. Winning the Wallflower by Eloisa James
4. Unveiled by Courtney Milan
5. Unlocked by Courtney Milan
6. A Lady Awakened by Cecilia Grant
7. The Other Guy's Bride by Connie Brockway 
8. In Bed with a Highlander by Maya Banks
9. Seduction of a Highland Lass by Maya Banks
10. Never Love a Highlander by Maya Banks
11. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

2010

1. Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs
2. The Art Detective by Philip Mould
3. Changeless by Gail Carriger
4. Blameless by Gail Carriger
5. Dukes to the Left of Me, Princes to the Right by Kieran Kramer
6. Flawless by Scott Andrew Selby and Greg Campbell
7. The War for Late Night by Bill Carter
8. Something About You by Julie James
9. Assassin's Honor by Monica Burns
10. For the Win by Cory Doctorow

2009
1. Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs
2. Sudden Death by Allison Brennan
3. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
4. Touch of Dead by Charlaine Harris
5. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
6. Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris
7. Untraceable by Laura Griffin
8. Rio by Allyson James
9. Calder by Allyson James

2008

1. Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs
2. The Spymaster's Lady by Joanna Bourne
3. Bonk by Mary Roach

4. Alpha and Omega by Patricia Briggs
5. From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris
6. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
7. Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs
8. Collision Course by K. A. Mitchell

2007
1. Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs
2. Don't You Forget About Me Edited by Jaime Clarke
3. Lover Revealed by J. R. Ward
4. Aiden and Ky by Allyson James
5. All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris
6. Aiden and Ky by Allyson James
7. The Serpent Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt

2006
1. The Wrong Hostage by Elizabeth Lowell
2. Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris
3. Lover Eternal by J. R. Ward
4. Lover Awakened by J. R. Ward 
5. The Viscount Who Loved Me: Second Epilogue by Julia Quinn
6. Whirlpool by Elizabeth Lowell

2005

1. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larrson
2. Dark Lover by J. R. Ward
3. After Midnight by Teresa Medeiros
4. Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris
5. Always Time to Die by Elizabeth Lowell

2004

1. Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison
2. Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris
3. Dime Store Magic by Kelley Armstrong
4. Industrial Magic by Kelley Armstrong 

2003

1. Stiff by Mary Roach
2. Stolen by Kelley Armstrong
3. Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins

2002
1. Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris
2. Untie My Heart by Judith Ivory

2001

1. 1st to Die by James Patterson

Support Your Local Library Challenge 2012

This Challenge is hosted by The Eclectic Bookshelf.  There are four levels and re-reads are not allowed.  I'm going to aim for Level 2 and if it goes well, I'll move up a level.  

Update:  I decided to go for Level 4 and I did it!  My goal on Shelfari is 50 for the year and I'm two books away from that. Yay me!

Levels:

Level 1 - Read 12 library books

Level 2 - Read 24 library books

Level 3 - Read 36 library books

Level 4 - Read 37+ library books

Read so far this year:

1: Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?
2: The Husband List
3: 1st to Die
4: The Viscount Who Loved Me
5: The Viscount Who Loved Me: The Epilogue II
6: Stiff
7: The Help
8: The Spymaster's Lady
9: The Golden Compass
10: Ready Player One
11: Dead Until Dark
12: Cat's Eyewitness
13: Living Dead in Dallas
14: Just Imagine
15: Club Dead
16: Born to Darkness
17: Always Time to Die
18: The Art Detective
19: Gregor the Overlander
20: Dead to the World
21: Something About You
22: Dead as a Doornail
23: The War for Late Night
24: Paris in Love
25: After Midnight
26: Definitely Dead
27: The Wrong Hostage
28: One Word Answer
29: The Proposal
30: All Together Dead
31: A Lady Awakened
32: Crystal Gardens
33: Catching Fire
34: From Dead to Worse
35: Flawless
36: A Touch of Dead
37: For the Win
38: Dead and Gone
39: Dead in the Family
40: Four Play
41: Mockingjay
42: A Discovery of Witches
43: I've Got Your Number
44: Dead Reckoning
45: The Great Escape
46: Beauty Queens
47: The Power of Habit
48: Ain't She Sweet?

12 in 12 Reading Challenge Completed!

This year I decided to go all out with the 12 in 12 challenge and read 12 books in 12 categories.  I read 131 books in 2011, so I think reading 144 is feasible.  The categories are much broader this year; otherwise is wouldn't be doable.

Here are the categories:
✔ 1. Historical Romance - 12/12 (+10)
✔ 2. Mystery and Suspense - 12/12

✔ 3. Paranormal Romance - 12/12 (+2)

✔ 4. Urban Fantasy/Fantasy - 12/12
✔ 5. Highlanders - 12/12
✔ 6. Continuing Series - 12/12 (+1)
✔ 7. Sci Fi/Futuristic - 12/12 (+1)
✔ 8. New Authors - 12/12
✔ 9. Anticipated Books (new in 2012) - 12/12
✔ 10. Contemporary Romance - 12/12 (+3)
✔ 11. AAR Top 100 (all lists) - 12/12
✔ 12. Non-fiction - 12/12

I'm going to keep a list of all the books I've read this year here, but I'll keep the more detailed list by category on Shelfari.

1: Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling
2: The Duke and I by Julia Quinn
3: Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs
4: The Husband List by Victoria Alexander
5: The Scargill Cove Case Files by Jayne Ann Krentz
6: 1st to Die by James Patterson
7: Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs
8: The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn
9: The Viscount Who Loved Me - Second Epilogue by Julia Quinn
10: Stiff by Mary Roach
11: Dark Lover by J. R. Ward
12: Winning the Wallflower: A Novella by Eloisa James
13: The Other Guy's Bride by Connie Brockway
14: Don't You Forget About Me: Contemporary Writers on the Films of John Hughes by Jaime Clarke
15: The Help by Kathryn Stockett
16: Dukes to the Left of Me, Princes to the Right by Kieran Kramer
17: Sudden Death by Allison Brennan
18: The Spymaster's Lady by Joanna Bourne
19: Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs
20: Unveiled by Courtney Milan
21: The Star King by Susan Grant
22: Unlocked by Courtney Milan
23: Lover Eternal by J. R. Ward
24: Lover Awakened by J. R. Ward
25: The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
26: Ready Player One by Ernest Kline
27: Bitten by Kelly Armstrong
28: Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
29: Changeless by Gail Carriger
30: Cat's Eyewitness by Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie Brown
31: Shane's Last Stand by Suzanne Brockmann
32: Blameless by Gail Carriger
33: Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris
34: Angel: After the Fall Vol. 3 by Brian Vaughn and Joss Whedon
35: Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs
36: Just Imagine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
37: Assassin's Honor by Monica Burns
38: Two People Having Sex (An Erotic Parody That Meets PalPay Standards of Censorship) by Frieda Wright
39: Club Dead by Charlaine Harris
40: Dance of Seduction by Sabrina Jeffries
41: Born to Darkness by Suzanne Brockmann
42: Meri by Judy Mays
43: Always Time to Die by Elizabeth Lowell
44: The Art Detective by Philip Mould
45: An Affair Without End by Candace Camp
46: Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins
47: Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris
48: Lover Revealed by J. R. Ward
49: Something About You by Julie James
50: In Bed with a Highlander by Maya Banks
51: Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris
52: Seduction of a Highland Lass by Maya Banks
53: Never Love a Highlander by Maya Banks
54: The War for Late Night by Bill Carter
55: Paris in Love by Eloisa James
56: After Midnight by Teresa Medeiros
57: Everyday Average Jones by Suzanne Brockmann
58: Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris
59: The Wrong Hostage by Elizabeth Lowell
60: One Word Answer by Charlaine Harris
61: Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison
62: The Proposal by Mary Balogh
63: All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris
64: Carnal Machines by Various
65: I Love the Earl by Caroline Linden
66: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
67: A Lady Awakened by Cecilia Grant
68: Crystal Gardens by Amanda Quick
69: Stolen by Kelley Armstrong
70: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
71: From Dead to Worse  by Charlaine Harris
72: The Witness  by Nora Roberts
73: Thrill of the Hunt
74: Flawless  by Scott Andrew Selby and David Campbell
75: A Touch of Dead  by Charlaine Harris
76: Eland  by Allyson James
77: Aiden and Ky  by Allyson James
78: Seduction  by Amanda Quick
79: River Marked  by Patricia Briggs
80: Alpha & Omega by Patricia Briggs
81: For the Win by Cory Doctorow
82: Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris
83: Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs
84: The Duke's Perfect Wife by Jennifer Ashley
85: Collision Course by K. A. Mitchell
86: Untraceable by Laura Griffin
87: Bonk by Mary Roach
88: Rees by Allyson James
89: Maia and Rylan by Allyson James
90: Dime Store Magic by Kelley Armstrong
91: Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris
92: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
93: Four Play by Maya Banks and Shayla Black
94: Industrial Magic by Kelley Armstrong
95: A Discovery of Witches  by Deborah Harkness
96: I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella
97: Copper Beach by Jayne Ann Krentz
98: The Darkest Hour by Maya Banks
99: Just the Sexiest Man Alive by Julie James
100: The Use by D. L. Carter
101: Wickedly Wanton: A Regency Menage Tale by Kristabel Reed
102: No Place to Run by Maya Banks
103: Legacy of the Witch by Maggie Shayne
104: The Wicked House of Rohan by Anne Stuart
105: Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris
106: The Theory of Attraction by Delphin Dryden
107: Ruthless by Anne Stuart
108: Rio by Allyson James
109: Calder by Allyson James
110: The Great Escape by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
111: Braden by Allyson James
112: The Reiver by Jackie Barbosa
113: Haunted by Kelley Armstrong
114: First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones
115: Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness
116: For I Have Sinned by Darynda Jones
117: The Sookie Stackhouse Companion by Charlaine Harris, et. al.
118: The Chief by Monica McCarty
119: Her Best Worst Mistake by Sarah Mayberry
120: Can't Get Enough by Sarah Mayberry
121: Beauty Queens by Libba Bray
122: Never Seduce a Scot by Maya Banks
123: Open Season by Linda Howard
124: Kill and Tell by Linda Howard
125: The Next Always by Nora Roberts
126: Hot Island Nights by Sarah Mayberry
127: The Last Boyfriend by Nora Roberts
128: The Perfect Hope by Nora Roberts
129: The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
130: Ain't She Sweet? by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
131: Untie My Heart by Judith Ivory
132: Taken by Selena Kitt
133: Brook Street: Thief by Ava March
134: Brook Street: Fortune Hunter by Ava March
135: Vitamin P by Nichelle Gregory
136: Autumn in Scotland by Karen Ranney
137: Whirlpool by Elizabeth Lowell
138: Argo: How the CIA and Hollywood Pulled Off the Most Audacious Rescue in History  by Anthony Mendez
139: Firelight by Kristen Callihan
140: In the Highlander's Bed by Cathy Maxwell
141: Snowy Night with a Highlander by Julia London
142: Raine by Elizabeth Amber
143: Hot Under the Collar (Lords of Lancashire) by Jackie Barbosa
144: A Night Like This by Julia Quinn
145: The Lesson Plan (Lords of Lancashire) by Jackie Barbosa
146: The Sacrifice by Evangeline Anderson
147: The Hawk by Monica McCarty
148: Ember by Kristen Callihan
149: Love's Portrait by Monica Burns
150: Roped by Ann Jacobs
151: The Virgin Proxy by Georgia Fox
152: The Craftsman by Georgia Fox
153: In the Line of Fire (Forbidden Desires) by Allison Chappell
154: Mackenzie Family Christmas: The Perfect Gift (Highland Pleasures) by Jennifer Ashley
155: Moonglow by Kristen Callihan
156: The Good Sinner's Naughty Nun by Georgia Fox
157: The Prize by Juile Garwood
158: The Poisoner's Handbook by Deborah Blum
159: Everything I Know about Love I Learned from Romance Novels by Sarah Wendell
160: The Serpent Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt
161: The Wagered Wench by Georgia Fox

Books to Read in January

Total Number Read: 7

Library Books:
1st to Die by James Patterson (audiobook)
Fool for Love by Eloisa James
A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin
Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling
Knight of a Trillion Stars by Dara Joy
Stiff by Mary Roach
The Constant Princess by Phillipa Gregory (audiobook)
The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman (audiobook)
The Husband List by Victoria Alexander
The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn
The Viscount Who Loved Me: Second Epilogue by Julia Quinn


Next in Series:
Love Bites by Lynsay Sands
The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larrson
Notorious Pleasures by Elizabeth Hoyt
Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs
Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs
Archangel's Consort by Nalini Singh

Historical Romance Challenge:
American Western: Jezebel's Daughter by Emily Carmichael
Regency (1811–1820): The Duke and I by Julia Quinn
Medieval (5th century to the 15th century): The Wedding by Julie Garwood
Edwardian (1901-1910): The Other Guy's Bride by Connie Brockway
Georgian (1714–1830): The Husband List by Victoria Alexander
Victorian (1837–1901): Unveiled by Courtney Milan

MADIOS Challenge (new to you authors):

Dark Lover by J. R. Ward
Lord and Lady Spy by Shana Galen
Unveiled by Courtney Milan

MADIOS Pick a Book from a Group Members Shelf Challenge:

Dark Lover by J. R. Ward (from Monica's shelf)

Currently Reading

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

Don't You Forget About Me edited by Jamie Clarke

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman (audiobook)
Archangel's Consort by Nalini Singh

Read

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

The Duke & I by Julia Quinn 
Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs
The Husband List by Victoria Alexander 
The Scargill Cove Case Files by Jayne Ann Krentz (short story)

1st to Die by James Patterson (audiobook)

Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs

The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn
The Viscount Who Loved Me: Second Epilogue by Julia Quinn
Stiff by Mary Roach (audiobook)
Dark Lover by J. R. Ward
Winning the Wallflower (novella) by Eloisa James
The Other Guy's Bride by Connie Brockway