Show Your Shelves Some Love: A No Book Buying Challenge 2015

Wow, there honestly couldn't be a challenge more tailored to my needs than this one.  Chapter Break and Second Run Reviews are hosting the Show Your Shelves Some Love/No Book Buying Challenge.  And while this seems harsh, this is what I really need to do. Make sure you check out the guidelines below and then head to the blog(s) listed above to sign up for the email list (step 2) and link up.

The Guidelines

• Abstain from spending money on books for one calendar year (or follow a monthly book budget).
• Gift cards OK,  audible account OK, but no buying extra credits (Rose!!!)
• Encourage other challenge participants via comments, social media and emails.
• Participate in the monthly posts. (The link up post will go live on the first of each month and be open for 30 days.)
• Library books do not count for this challenge. This challenge is mainly for books you already own.
• Netgalley books can count for this because you have the book, so read it!

No Book Buying Challenge Step 1: Select your goal

Yellow Belt —-> 1-10 books: shake hands with your shelves
Blue Belt    —->11-20 books: pat your shelves on the back
Green Belt  —->21-30 books: give your shelves a warm friendly hug
Purple Belt  —->31-40 books: regular date night with your shelves
Brown Belt —-> 41-50 books: my shelves are now my bff
Black Belt —->51+ books: my shelves and I are going steady

I'm going for the Green Belt with aspirations to go higher.  I will also adhere to a monthly book buying budget, because there will always be a new ebook out there I want and they don't clutter anything but my iPad so I don't mind those as much.  My monthly budget will be $20 (hopefully less most months).

1. Sometimes It Lasts by Abbi Glines
2. Kiro's Emily by Abbi Glines 
3. Tidal by Emily Snow
4. Enforce by Rachel van Dyken 
5. Bad for You by Abbi Glines
6. Hold On Tight by Abbi Glines
7. Forever Too Far by Abbi Glines
8. Take A Chance by Abbi Glines
9. One More Chance by Abbi Glines
10. Rush Too Far by Abbi Glines
11. Survivor in Death by J.D. Robb

January spending:  $16.51 (Kindle ebooks)  Yay, under budget!

February spending: $1.06

2015 New Author Challenge

I love new authors. I love reading book blogs and discovering new authors.  I love having new authors pitch me their books for reviews.  So this is a perfect challenge to get me back into blogging next year and also to help find me some new go-to authors hopefully (Colleen Hoover, Abbi Glines and Rachel Van Dyken were some major winners for me this year).

Head over to Literary Escapism to find out all the details and to sign up. It's pretty simple, read something by a new-to-you author, and it doesn't have to be a debut author.

I'm setting my goal at 15 new authors.  I hope for more, but feel that is a good goal.

1. Emily Snow (Tidal audiobook)
2. Abigail Haas (Dangerous Girls through Scribd.com subscription)

2015 Romantic Suspense Reading Challenge

As a lover of romance novels in all forms, I would have to say that romantic suspense has always been one of my go-to genres in the larger romance genre, probably coming in second only to contemporary romance.  Something about coming suspense and romance really works for me.  It's like the best of both worlds.  So of course this challenge hosted by The Book Vixen is a perfect fit.

Reading Challenge Details:

• Runs January 1, 2015 – December 31, 2015 (books read prior to 1/1/2015 do not count towards the challenge). You can join anytime before 9/30/2015. Sign up on The Book Vixen’s blog.
• The goal is to read as many romantic suspense novels as you’d like. See the different levels below and pick the one that works best for you. You can move up a level as often as you’d like but no moving down. Remember, the idea is to challenge yourself.
• Books can be any format (print, ebook, audio).
• Novellas that are 100 pages in length (give or take), as well as full-length novels, will count for this reading challenge.
• Re-reads and crossovers from other reading challenges are allowed.
• To join the challenge, grab the 2015 Romantic Suspense Reading Challenge button below and post this reading challenge on your blog to track your progress. Please include a link back to this sign-up post so others can join the reading challenge too. You do not have to be a book blogger to participate; you can track your progress on Goodreads, LibraryThing, BookLikes, etc., so as long as you have a dedicated shelf for the 2015 Romantic Suspense Reading Challenge and your profile is not private. The point of linking up is to have a place where people can see what you’re reading.

Levels:

• Civilian: read 1–5 romantic suspense novels
• Hunter: read 6–10 romantic suspense novels
• Marksman: read 11–15 romantic suspense novels
• Sniper: read 16–20 romantic suspense novels
• SWAT: read 21+ romantic suspense novels

I'm aiming for the SWAT level.  We'll see how I do.  Come back in 2015 to cheer me on to read the books and write the reviews!

1. You Don't Want to Know by Lisa Jackson
2. Survivor in Death by J.D. Robb

2015 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge

Since I started the ball rolling with challenges for next year, let's continue.  At the moment, the 12th of December I have read 139 books and I hope to meet my goal for the year at 150 books.  Next year I do hope to beat that number so I'm signing up for this challenge at The Book Vixen.

Reading Challenge Details:

• Runs January 1, 2015 – December 31, 2015 (books read prior to 1/1/2015 do not count towards the challenge). You can join anytime before 9/30/2015. Sign up on The Book Vixen’s blog.
• The goal is to outdo yourself by reading more in 2015 than you did in 2014. See the different levels below and pick the one that works best for you. You can move up a level as often as you’d like but no moving down. Remember, the idea is to challenge yourself.
• Books can be any format (print, ebook, audio).
• Books can be any genre (fiction, nonfiction, romance, mystery, etc.).
• Novellas that are 100 pages in length (give or take), as well as full-length novels, will count for this reading challenge.
• Re-reads and crossovers from other reading challenges are allowed.
• To join the challenge, grab the 2015 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge button below and post this reading challenge on your blog to track your progress. Please include a link back to this sign-up post so others can join the reading challenge too. You do not have to be a book blogger to participate; you can track your progress on Goodreads, LibraryThing, BookLikes, etc., so as long as you have a dedicated shelf for the 2015 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge and your profile is not private. The point of linking up is to have a place where people can see what you’re reading.

Levels:

• Getting My Heart Rate Up: read 1–5 more books (or 250–1,499 more pages)
• Out of Breath: read 6–10 more books (or 1,500–2,749 more pages)
• Breaking a Sweat: read 11–15 more books (or 2,750–3,999 more pages)
• I’m on Fire!: read 16+ more books (or 4,000+ more pages)
 

I'm going to shoot for the Breaking a Sweat goal, reading 11-15 more books.  I use to read close to 200 books a year so I would like to get back to that!

My final total for 2014 was 166, so that is 177-182 books in 2015.

Come back to check this post out in 2015 and see how I'm doing and cheer me on to complete reviews!

1. Sometimes It Lasts by Abbi Glines
2. Kiro's Emily by Abbi Glines
3. Misbehaving by Abbi Glines
4. Enforce by Rachel van Dyken
5. Tidal by Emily Snow 
6. Burn by James Patterson
7. Bad for You by Abbi Glines
8. Hold on Tight by Abbi Glines
9. Graduation Day by Joelle Charbonneau
10. Forever Too Far by Abbi Glines
11. Take a Chance by Abbi Glines
12. The City by Dean Koontz
13. One More Chance by Abbi Glines
14. Suspicion by Joseph Finder
15. Happenstance #1 by Jamie Mcguire
16. Happenstance #2 by Jamie Mcguire
17. You Don't Want to Know by Lisa Jackson
18. Rush Too Far by Abbi Glines
19. Happenstance #3 by Jamie Mcguire
20. Dangerous Girls by Abigail Haas
21. Never, Never by Colleen Hoover & Tarryn Fisher
22. Effortless by S.C. Stephens
23. Survivor in Death by J.D. Robb
24. Private Vegas by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro 
25. Hope to Die by James Patterson

2015 Contemporary Romance Reading Challenge

As I finish up 2014 and look ahead to 2015, I hope to begin posting on the blog again more regularly. So a great way to do this is to challenge myself to various reading challenges and strive to complete them and write reviews for the books read for the challenge. As my first official declared challenge for 2015, I'm going with the 2015 Contemporary Romance Reading Challenge. This is honestly one of my favorite genres so it should be easy to complete. Here are the details from The Book Vixen's website.  Be sure and visit there for more information and to sign up!

Reading Challenge Details:

• Runs January 1, 2015 – December 31, 2015 (books read prior to 1/1/2015 do not count towards the challenge). You can join anytime before 9/30/2015. Sign up on The Book Vixen’s blog.
• The goal is to read as many Contemporary Romance books as you’d like. Books that qualify for this challenge can be young adult, new adult, or adult. Books can be M/F, M/M, or F/F. Books must be a work of fiction (sorry, nonfiction does not qualify for this challenge). Romances with the following elements do not qualify for this reading challenge: paranormal, historical, time-travel, fantasy, science fiction, or mystery/suspense/thriller. See the different levels below and pick the one that works best for you. You can move up a level as often as you’d like but no moving down. Remember, the idea is to challenge yourself.
• Books can be any format (print, ebook, audio).
• Novellas that are 100 pages in length (give or take), as well as full-length novels, will count for this reading challenge.
• Re-reads and crossovers from other reading challenges are allowed.
• To join this challenge, grab the 2015 Contemporary Romance Reading Challenge button below and post this reading challenge on your blog to track your progress. Please include a link back to this sign-up post so others can join the reading challenge too. You do not have to be a book blogger to participate; you can track your progress on Goodreads, LibraryThing, BookLikes, etc., so as long as you have a dedicated shelf for the 2015 Contemporary Romance Reading Challenge and your profile is not private. The point of linking up is to have a place where people can see what you’re reading.

Levels:

• 1st Base: read 1 – 5 books
• 2nd Base: read 6 – 10 books
• 3rd Base: read 11 – 15 books
• Home Run: read 16 – 20 books
• Grand Slam: read 21+ books

My goal will be the Grand Slam.  Come back here in 2015 to see how I do.

1. Sometimes It Lasts by Abbi Glines
2. Kiro's Emily by Abbi Glines
3. Misbehaving by Abbi Glines
4. Enforce by Rachel van Dyken
5. Tidal by Emily Snow 
6. Bad For You by Abbi Glines
7. Hold on Tight by Abbi Glines
8. Forever Too Far by Abbi Glines
9. Take A Chance by Abbi Glines
10. One More Chance by Abbi Glines
11. Rush Too Far by Abbi Glines
12. Happenstance #1 by Jamie McGuire
13. Happenstance #2 by Jamie McGuire
14. Happenstance #3 by Jamie McGuire
15. You Don't Want To Know by Lisa Jackson 
16. Never, Never by Colleen Hoover & Tarryn Fisher
17. Effortless by S.C. Stephens

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I'm Looking Forward to in 2015

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.  So go there to check out more info, link up and see the future topics. 

This week's topic is:

Top Ten Books I'm Looking Forward to in 2015

1. The Heir by Kiera Cass - I didn't even know there would be a book after The One, so I am excited for a new one in this series.
2. Confess by Colleen Hoover - she is quickly becoming a favorite of mine, so I can't wait to read a new one by her
3. Wicked by Jennifer L. Armentrout - another favorite author and a series set in one of my favorite settings: New Orleans
4. Miss Mayhem by Rachel Hawkins - loved Rebel Belle so I can't wait for the next installment
5. Instinct by Sherrilyn Kenyon - love my Chronicles of Nick so this is on my must-read list
6. The Stars Never Rise by Rachel Vincent - a must-read author and a new series
7. Vanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver - another must-read author
8. First Frost by Sarah Addison Allen - I have not read this author but plan on reading Garden Spells very soon and from what I have heard, I will eagerly read all her books.
9. Thoughtful by S.C. Stephens - I cannot wait to read the story from Kellan's POV!
10. Quarterback Draw by Jaci Burton - I love sports novels, I love the Play By Play series and can't wait to read about Grant

What Are You Reading Monday #12

Come post weekly and see what others are reading too just so you can add to your tbr - I always do! For more information see Sheila at One Persons Journey Through a World of Books and join in!

Books Completed Last Few Weeks:

• Sideswiped by Lia Riley (ebook, review)
• Inside Out by Lia Riley (ebook, review)
• Fallen Too Far by Abbi Glines (ebook, mine)
• Hopeless by Colleen Hoover (ebook, mine)
• Trust in Me by J. Lynn (ebook, review)
  

Reading Now: 

• Be With Me by J. Lynn (ebook, review)
• Deadlocked by Charlaine Harries (audiobook, library)
• The Nonrunner's Marathoners Guide for Women by Dawn Dais (Scribd)

Next: 

•  Not sure, whatever calls my name :)

Summary -

Spent most of Friday and Saturday reading.  Was seriously disappointed to find I didn't have the second book in the Rosemary Beach series by Abbi Glines.  Would have sworn I did.  No money at the moment to buy it either.  Then I read Hopeless only to find I didn' have the next book in that series either.  Thankfully I started back on the Wait for You series by J. Lynn and had books 1.5 & 2 so I felt good to go with that one.   What's next?  Who knows.  Hope everyone in the US had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

So how was your week?

What Are You Reading Monday #11

Come post weekly and see what others are reading too just so you can add to your tbr - I always do! For more information see Sheila at One Persons Journey Through a World of Books and join in!

Books Completed Last Few Weeks:

• Twisted Perfection by Abbi Glines (audiobook, review) 
• Top Secret Twenty-One by Janet Evanovich (library)
• Maybe, Someday by Colleen Hoover (library)
• Unteachable by Leah Raeder (audiobook, review)
• The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die by April Henry (library)
• Entice by Rachel Van Dyken (ebook, purchased)
• Bang, Bang by Rachel Van Dyken (ebook, purchased)
• Elicit by Rachel Van Dyken (ebook, purchased)

Reading Now: 

• Sideswiped by Lia Riley (ebook, review)
• Deadlocked by Charlaine Harries (audiobook, library)
• The Nonrunner's Marathoners Guide for Women by Dawn Dais (Scribd)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (just because) 

Next: 

•  Not sure, whatever calls my name :)

Summary -

Been reading, crocheting, sleeping, dealing with flare-ups, going to soccer games and finishing sewing my husband's annual hunting jacket.  So it's been busy.  Now gearing up to clean up house for Christmas, fun fun!

So how was your week?

What Are You Reading Monday #10

Come post weekly and see what others are reading too just so you can add to your tbr - I always do! For more information see Sheila at One Persons Journey Through a World of Books and join in!

Books Completed Last Two Weeks:

• Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick (audiobook, review)
• Elect by Rachel Van Dyken (mine) 
• Keep Quiet by Lisa Scottoline (library)
• Ashes to Ashes by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian (audiobook, review)  
• Get Off Your Ass and Run by Ruth Field (Scribd)

Reading Now: 

• Twisted Perfection by Abbi Glines (audiobook, review)
• The Nonrunner's Marathoners Guide for Women by Dawn Dais (Scribd)
• Illusion by Sherrilyn Kenyon (library)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (just because) 

Next:

• The Betrayed by Heather Graham (review)
• Happenstance #1 by Jamie Maguire 
• The Infinite Sea by Rick Yancey (library)

Summary -
Busy week, but great reading.  Shocking temps yesterday and today but I think it warms back up later this week.  Somehow I wasn't prepared for 36 degrees this morning!  I think the lowest it had been before this front was in the 50s!

So how was your week?

Top Ten Tuesday - Oct. 28

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.  So go there to check out more info, link up and see the future topics. 

This week's topic is:

 Top Ten Books/Movies To Read Or Watch To Get In The Halloween Spirit OR Top Ten Characters Who I Would Totally Want To Be For Halloween 

I'm going with Top Ten Books to Read to Get Into the Halloween Spirit

 

1. It by Stephen King - It is  my alltime favorite Stephen King and still scares me to death!
2. Pet Semetary by Stephen King
3. Twilight Eyes by Dean Koontz, this still remains a favorite of mine because of the creepiness factor
   
4. Suffer the Children by John Saul - I loved his books in high school and there is a definite creepiness factor
5. Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake - awesome YA horror!
6. The Hallowed Ones by Laura Bickle - I haven't read this yet, but plan on reading it this week
   
7. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke - I loved this and it's perfect for Halloween
8. The Skull Ring by Scott Nicholson - Loved this one, really any of his books are great for Halloween but I love this one the most!
9. Isolation by Travis Thrasher - amazing, very scary and a great read.
10. The Shining by Stephen King - simply a great book involving a scary hotel and how things can get scarier when cabin fever hits.

Blog Ahead November

So I'm joining in November's 30 days, 30+ pre scheduled posts, a kind of NaNoWriteMo for bloggers hosted at Herding Cats and Burning Soup.  More information below and you can click on the banner or the blog name and sign up yourself!

A bloggery version of NaNoWriMo!

November 1-30th, 2014

The Goal

The basic goal is to get "ahead" in your blog posts.

At the end of the month of Nov you'll have 30 additional pre-schedules than when you started the month. 

ex--If you Start with 5 pre schedules--End with 35 pre schedules

     Start with 10 pre schedules-- End with 40 pre schedules

Who Can Join

Any blogger. New, seasoned, Blogger, Wordpress

Any heat level, genre or theme, etc

Types of Posts

Anything you want :)

meme, review, guest post, interview, discussion, etc. 

It doesn't have to be book related

What to do Next!

Sign Up Here! 

My Goal:

I plan on scheduling 30 posts, a combination of prepping my What Are You Reading Monday, Top Ten Tuesday and hopefully at least 20 reviews, I really need to get caught up.  We'll see how I do :)

What Are You Reading Monday #9

Come post weekly and see what others are reading too just so you can add to your tbr - I always do! For more information see Sheila at One Persons Journey Through a World of Books and join in!

Books Completed Last Two Weeks:

• Private: L.A. by James Patterson & Mark T. Sullivan (library)
• Panic by Lauren Oliver (library)
• Foolish Games by Tracey Solheim (for Ramblings from this Chick)
• Mistress by James Patterson (library)
• Visions in Death by James Patterson (library)
• Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins (library)
• Beautiful Oblivion by Jamie Maguire (mine)
• Elite by Rachel Van Dyken (mine)

Reading Now: 

• Elect by Rachel Van Dyken (mine)
• The Infinite Sea by Rick Yancey (library)
• Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick (audiobook, review)
  
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (just because) 

Next:

• The Betrayed by Heather Graham (review)
• Ashes to Ashes by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian (audiobook, review)
• Keep Quiet by Lisa Scottoline (library)
• Happenstance #1 by Jamie Maguire

Summary -
This is for two weeks since I forgot to post last week.  Week one was an amazing reading week even with the whole day on Sunday spent crocheting.  This past week started slow with a lot of tv watching Monday night.  We are trying to finish up season 4 of The Walking Dead so we can watch the first two episodes of Season 5 and then start in with Season 5 next Sunday.  And then there is The Voice which can't be missed. But I finished up the week on a reading binge by diving ito Beautiful Oblivion and  Elite.  Now I'm on and roll and should finish my audio of Black Ice today and can't wait to get into Ashes to Ashes to see how that series turns out!

So how was your week?

Top Ten Tuesday - Oct. 21

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.  So go there to check out more info, link up and see the future topics. 

This week's topic is:

Top New Series I Want To Start (New..let's say within the last year or two)

1. Crossfire series by Sylvia Day
2. The Young Elites by Marie Lu
3. Atlantia by Ally Condie (at least I think it's a series)
4. Off the Record by K.A. Linde
5. Happenstance by Jamie Maguire (it's a serial, but I'm going to count it) :)
6. Redemption series by Sarah Castille
7. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
8. His Fair Assassin by Robin LaFevers
9. The Cahill Witch Chronicles by Jessica Spotswood
10. Crewel World by Gennifer Albin

 

 

So what series interest you?  I would love to know!