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